Mixing valves (or mixer valves) are valves that mix and dispense steam, fuels, liquids, coolants and chemicals at a pre-set temperature. You can use mixing valves for applications involving a wide range of temperature and fluid concentrations.

Industries that use mixing valves are the food processing, medical, agriculture, chemical and oil and gas industries.

Depending on your requirements, you can buy a thermostatic mixing valve, a hot water mixing valve, water mixing valve, a shower mixing valve, a pressure-mixing valve or a plumbing mixing valve.

Some important parameters you must consider before buying a mixer valve are:

1. Properties of material flowing through the mixing valve
2. Bypass flow capacity
3. Pressure drop of different mixing valves
4. Testing or maintenance schedule: regular or monthly

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy mixing valves from reputable mixing valve manufacturers

Once you identify your mixing valve requirements, evaluate mixing valves available from reputable valve manufacturers.

I recommend: Lawler Manufacturing Company is a reputable manufacturer of thermostatic mixing valves and shower valves for the plumbing industry. Powers is a leading manufacturer of a balanced pressure mixing valve that you can use on shower and tub/shower installations in residential and commercial buildings. Armstrong International offers a wide range of thermostatic steam and water mixing valves that you can use in your existing industrial setup. Leonard Valve Company is another reputable manufacturer of thermostatic water mixing valves to industrial, commercial and residential end markets.

Buy mixing valves from mixing valve distributors or retailers

Compare different mixing valves based on their features and prices at distributors or retailers' websites.

I recommend: DrillSpot is a hardware supplier that provides mixing valves and mixing valve repair services. PexSupply.com is the leading distributor for plumbing and heating equipment that provides dual-purpose mixing valves in a range of sizes.

Buy specialty or customized mixing valves

Buy a specialty or customized mixing valve if standard valves available in the market do not match your requirements. Evaluate the cost of mixing valves and perform a cost-value analysis before ordering a customized mixing valve.

I recommend: Therm-Omega-Tech is a reputable custom manufacturer of the tempered water system and automatic temperature control valves for flow management systems. You can also buy mixing valves and equipment at Welker Engineering, a company that specializes in control valves, filtration equipment, instrumentation and chemical injection systems.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Select a supplier that provides excellent after-sales services.
• •  For mixing chemicals or flammable liquids, choose mixing valves with extra care as a small valve malfunction can result in serious accidents.