Historically, many buildings have relied on high-temperature heating systems, such as steam boilers, gas-fired water heaters or electric heat pumps, to supply hot water. These systems often produce water temperatures well above 140 F, with some reaching up to 200 F, creating a serious risk of scalding.

To address this hazard, Holby Valve Inc. introduced its thermostatic tempering valve in 1930. This valve continuously blends cold water with hot water before it enters the domestic water system, ensuring safer and more consistent temperatures at the point of use.

Ninety-five years later, the Holby Tempering Valve is still made and used in a wide range of buildings, including hotels, multifamily residences and healthcare facilities. 

In 2020, Holby Valve expanded its product line with the HolbyMonitor, a wireless system that allows building owners to continuously monitor the performance of their Holby tempering valves. 

So what’s the secret to this Newark, New Jersey-based organization’s long-term success? According to Tom Lentine, vice president of sales and operations at Holby Valve, it’s not just the simplicity of the product’s design, it’s also the organization’s overall strategy and approach to servicing customers, which is accomplished via their team of dedicated Holby Valve employees and a strong network of manufacturers’ representatives across the United States who help educate contractors and engineering firms on proper application, piping configuration and size selection. 

PHCPPros recently spoke with Lentine to learn more about Holby Valve and its client-centric approach to business.

PHCPPros: Holby Valve is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year. In such a competitive market, how has Holby Valve thrived over the years?

Tom Lentine: Holby Valve has succeeded for 95 years by staying true to the core principles that built our reputation: rugged reliability, simple serviceability and a commitment to our customers. Our valves are engineered to be durable and easy to maintain, which keeps them operating efficiently for decades. 

Just as important, we support our products with unmatched technical service. In New York, our sales representative Tim Devine exemplifies this approach, he’s not just selling valves; he’s making sure every system is installed right, operating properly, and fully understood by contractors and building maintenance staff.

Our service to customers is enhanced with help from Office Manager Maria Lopes, who ensures that orders move smoothly from receipt to shipment. Jim Lentine, product manager for the HolbyMonitor, also plays a key role in the business, managing the company’s social media presence, website and many other day-to-day responsibilities. 

Behind the scenes, a small but dedicated team handles assembly, testing, packaging and shipping, all of which are critical to Holby’s continued success.

PHCPPros: Tell us about your product line.

Lentine: Our core product is the Holby Tempering Valve, which has become a trusted fixture in domestic hot water systems across the country. The valve is extremely rugged and reliable, simple to adjust, easy to service, and compliant with the ASSE 1017 Master Mixing Valve standard. It’s available in nine sizes, from ½ inch to 4 inches, and consists of a cast body, piston, and bonnet.

Alongside our Holby Valve, we offer the HolbyMonitor, a wireless water temperature monitoring system that alerts building staff when the domestic water system requires service. If water temperatures go out of the defined range, the HolbyMonitor sends alerts via text or email, signaling that service may be required. 

The combination of a proven, dependable valve and intelligent monitoring gives engineers and building managers the performance and peace of mind they need.

PHCPPros: Has the Holby Tempering Valve changed in any way over the years?

Lentine: With the exception of upgrading the material to a low-lead alloy as required by the Clean Water Drinking Act, the design and functionality of the Holby Tempering Valve remains the same, even 95 years later. One of the things we’re proud of is that our current replacement parts still fit all of our existing valves in the field. We have quite a number of Holby Valves still operating reliably after more than 50 years in service. That’s longevity!

PHCPPros: What sets the Holby Tempering Valve apart from the other tempering valves on the market?

Lentine: The Holby Tempering Valve is built for longevity and ease of service. I think one of the biggest factors that sets us apart is that our valve has only three internal parts… that’s about as simple as it gets. Fewer parts mean fewer things that can fail and fewer spare parts to keep on hand. 

Its rugged design and straightforward maintenance procedures mean it can operate for decades with proper care. Technicians can service it in the field with standard tools, and we provide training and technical support to ensure the job gets done right the first time. That level of reliability reduces callbacks and improves user satisfaction, which is why once a facility uses a Holby Valve, they typically don’t want to install anything else. 

We’ve found that when contractors and building engineers understand how the Holby Valve works, they become long-term advocates because the valve is just that easy to operate and maintain once they’ve seen it in action.

PHCPPros: How do you service your customers across the country?

Lentine: Across the United States, Holby Valve supports our customers through a network of over 30 manufacturers’ representatives. In New York, both city and upstate, Holby Valve handles the territory directly, and we have an amazing employee in Tim Devine, whose dedication to the plumbing industry and customer support is second to none.

A key part of Tim’s role is field support. When he visits job sites, he isn’t just there to assist with startup, he also reviews the installation. One of the most common issues we encounter is improper piping of the hot water recirculation system. Tim can spot those issues quickly and help contractors make corrections before they cause performance problems. That hands-on involvement is critical to ensuring the Holby Valve performs as intended. After each visit, Tim follows up with the design engineer to share observations and provide confidence that the installation is on track.

Tim also provides training for contractors and building staff, helps troubleshoot systems, and supports HolbyMonitor installations. Engineers and contractors consistently tell us how much they value Holby’s support, and Tim’s expertise is a big reason why.

PHCPPros: Is there anything you’d like to add?

Lentine: Just this: We’ve been in business for 95 years not just because we make a great product, although we do, but because we’re committed to supporting every Holby Valve in the field. From Newark to New York and beyond, our success is built on the relationships we’ve developed with engineers, contractors and facility managers. People know they can count on Holby, and that’s a reputation we’ve earned valve by valve, job by job. And when you call Holby, we actually pick up the phone. We believe that initial contact is as important as the product. l