"would thermostatic valves make a bigger difference in those cases?"
Thermostatic valves definitely handle temperature swings better since they directly sense and adjust the water temp, not just pressure. I've swapped out pressure-balancing valves for thermostatic ones in older homes, and clients usually notice a big improvement... especially in houses with older plumbing setups. Have you checked your home's water pressure overall though? Sometimes that's the real culprit.
"Have you checked your home's water pressure overall though? Sometimes that's the real culprit."
Good point about water pressure—made a big difference for us. But thermostatic valves helped too, especially with older plumbing. Maybe try sorting the pressure first and see how it goes? Good luck!
"thermostatic valves helped too, especially with older plumbing."
Interesting you mention thermostatic valves...I looked into those myself but ended up holding off because of cost. For me, adjusting the pressure regulator was enough to stop the freezing showers when someone flushed. I'd recommend starting there first—it's a cheaper fix and might just solve it outright. If not, then maybe consider valves as a second step. Worked for me anyway. Good luck sorting it out.
Adjusting the pressure regulator's a solid tip, hadn't thought of that. Thermostatic valves definitely work, but yeah, they're pricey—especially if you're dealing with older pipes that might need adapters or fittings. I ended up just tweaking the mixing valve on my shower faucet to balance things out. Took some trial and error, but now flushing isn't a shock therapy session anymore...at least not often.
Tweaking the mixing valve can help, sure, but honestly that's more of a band-aid than a real fix. You're essentially just masking the underlying issue—pressure imbalance. Thermostatic valves might seem pricey upfront, but they're a long-term solution that actually addresses the root cause. And adapters aren't always necessary; sometimes it's just about finding the right brand or model that fits your existing setup without too much hassle.
Personally, I'd rather spend a bit extra now and not have to deal with random cold shocks down the line. Adjusting the pressure regulator is decent advice too, but if your plumbing's older or already finicky, messing with pressure settings can sometimes open up new problems you didn't even know you had... Learned that one the hard way myself.
