Mixing valves are sneaky—mine was set way lower than I realized for months. I’d also check the collector loop like you said; I once spent hours troubleshooting only to find a tiny air bubble was the whole problem. Sometimes it’s the simple stuff that trips us up.
Honestly, I get what you’re saying about the mixing valve, but I’d be careful cranking it up too high. I’ve seen folks end up with scalding water and not realize it until someone gets burned. Sometimes the “simple stuff” is a safety thing, not just a performance issue. And with air bubbles, yeah, they’re sneaky, but if you’re getting them a lot, might be worth checking for a slow leak or a spot where air’s getting sucked in. Just my two cents—sometimes it’s not just a quick fix.
Yeah, I learned the hard way about the mixing valve—my partner nearly turned our shower into a lobster pot once. I get wanting hotter water, but safety’s no joke. As for air bubbles, I chased a “phantom leak” for weeks before realizing it was just a loose fitting on the return line. Sometimes it’s the tiniest thing causing all the drama.
Sometimes it’s the tiniest thing causing all the drama.
Ain’t that the truth. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been called out for “major leaks” that end up being a loose union or a barely-cracked fitting. Those little air leaks can really mess with a solar setup, too—especially if you’re running an open-loop system.
About the mixing valve, I’ve seen folks try to crank them up thinking it’ll squeeze out more hot water, but it’s a slippery slope. You want enough heat, but not at the expense of safety. I had a client once who bypassed the mixing valve entirely—wound up with scalding water at the tap and a whole lot of regret. Sometimes more isn’t better.
Curious, have you checked if your tempering valve is set right, or if you’ve got any scale buildup in the collector lines? Even a little scale can drop your output and make the system act weird. What kind of maintenance routine are you running?
About the mixing valve, I’ve seen folks try to crank them up thinking it’ll squeeze out more hot water, but it’s a slippery slope.
I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes a little tweak on the mixing valve can make a difference—just gotta be careful not to overdo it. Had a buddy who swore his “barely warm” water was a valve issue, but it turned out his sensor was just loose. Not always the obvious culprit, right?