Harvey W. Hottel, Inc.

Since 1945

• Residential Services
• Commercial Services
• Geothermal
• Engineering/Design Build

Resources

Shower Shock

One of the oldest plumbing issues is shower shock. There is nothing like relaxing after a long day's work and having someone disrupt your shower by flushing the toilet. It may be an unexpected shot of hot or cold water, whatever the temperature it is equally unpleasant. The reason for this quick shift in temperature is do to an imbalance in your Northern Virginia plumbing system. Harvey W. Hottel Inc. has tended to this issue for over 60 years. Still homeowners ask up why this issue still persists. Our staff has put together a short article explaining the imbalance.

When you turn on the water of your shower and adjust the knobs to create your desired temperature, you have created a temperature balance for the supply line feeding water to your shower. When someone in your home flushes the toilet, if you are sharing a supply line, the coldwater leaves and is diverted to your toilet to fill the tank. In the process you get inundated with scalding hot water. This can also happen if you use the dishwasher or laundry machine as the shower run simultaneously.

Advances in plumbing technology have come up with a solution for this issue. Whether you live in Chantilly, Silver Spring, or Fairfax, the solution is the same. By installing a pressure balanced shower valve, your problems can be solved. This valve maintains an equal balance between hot and cold water. These valves come equipped with an anti-scald feature allowing you to set the comfortable temperature.