Ron George explains the importance of understanding plumbing safety and system functionality when a heat exchanger with no storage tank or code-required and approved temperature controls is used for domestic hot water applications.  

Ron George explains the emergency shower and eyewash standard and OSHA requirements.

Thermal disinfection or short-term chemical disinfection may kill Legionella bacteria on the surface of the biofilm, but it does not kill bacteria under it. Bacteria can go into a cyst form, encapsulating it inside an amoeba and deep within layers of buildup on a pipe wall covered with biofilm.

As we continue this domestic hot water series, Ron George discusses the best circumstances to include temperature-actuated balancing valves or pressure-reducing valves in your plumbing design of high-rises and mega-tall buildings.

As we continue this series, Ron George discusses thermal expansion tanks, temperature gauges, temperature effects on Legionella bacteria and hot water temperature maintenance cables.

We continue this series with a discussion on verifying that temperature controls in a domestic hot water system are working properly. TMVs work well at stabilizing system temperatures. When used with point-of-use mixing valves, they provide safe temperatures for bathing and washing. 

In part 4 of commissioning/troubleshooting domestic hot water systems, Ron George discusses how long it takes hot water to get to all fixtures, temperature limit stops, water heater thermostats, digital mixing valves, water flow velocity, and balancing water conservation with health and safety.

Part 3 of this series covers applications and locations for various temperature controls, DHW control valves, temperature control valve standards, and how to protect yourself from liability if the owner refuses to install a control valve serving the hot water distribution system.

Domestic hot water accounts for more than 25% of all scald burns in children. Ron George discusses the codes and standards covering hot water temperatures and how temperature-actuated mixing valves help prevent scalding issues.

Design, installation and maintenance are all important for properly operating a building’s hot water system. Who an owner hires to maintain the building is critical. Most maintenance personnel may not know how to troubleshoot hot water issues properly. Ron George has provided a checklist for domestic hot water systems’ design, installation and commissioning.