Interesting...didn't realize thermostatic valves made that big of a difference. I've been dealing with the cold-shock dance for years, haha. Was installing them tricky, or pretty straightforward for a DIYer?
I installed thermostatic valves last spring after years of dealing with the dreaded cold-water surprise myself. Honestly, I was skeptical they'd make a noticeable difference—seemed like another gimmick at first—but I gotta admit, they really do smooth out those temp swings.
The installation itself wasn't overly complicated, but it does depend on your comfort level with basic plumbing. Took me about an afternoon to get it done, including a couple trips to the hardware store (always seems inevitable...). The trickiest part for me was getting the old valve off without damaging the pipes behind the wall. Make sure you have a good wrench and some plumber's tape handy. Also, double-check your water pressure afterward—mine dropped slightly at first until I adjusted things properly.
Overall, if you're decently handy and patient enough to follow instructions step-by-step, it's definitely doable as a DIY project. Just don't rush it...and maybe have a backup shower option ready just in case things go sideways temporarily.
Haha, glad I'm not the only one who's had the "flush of doom" experience. I put thermostatic valves in a rental unit last year after tenants kept complaining about surprise ice baths. Wasn't sure they'd actually do much, but turns out they work pretty well. Did you run into any stubborn old fittings? Mine were practically welded on... took some serious elbow grease (and swearing under my breath) to get them loose.
Haha, thermostatic valves are a lifesaver. Had the same issue in one of my older properties—tenants kept texting me about the dreaded cold shower surprise whenever someone flushed. Decided to bite the bullet and install thermostatic mixers myself. Thought it'd be a quick weekend job... boy, was I wrong.
Those fittings were ancient and crusted over with decades of mineral buildup. Felt like I was wrestling a stubborn mule trying to break them loose. Ended up spraying them down with penetrating oil, letting them sit overnight, and then carefully heating them up with a torch (carefully being the key word here). Even then, took a good wrench and more than a few choice words muttered under my breath before they budged.
But once they were swapped out, the difference was night and day. Tenants were happy, no more ice-cold surprises, and fewer complaints landing in my inbox. Definitely worth the hassle in the end.
"Definitely worth the hassle in the end."
Thermostatic mixers are solid, but honestly, sometimes just upgrading to wider supply lines can fix pressure drops without all that torch and wrench drama. Worked for me in a similar old build... quicker and cheaper too.
