Thread

Wax motor

525 points · 107 comments · mhb

rogerdickey · 1789681413 · focus · HN ↗
Wax elements are also used in thermostatic valves for faucets (to keep faucet temperature constant given variable hot and cold mains): <a href="https://rogerdickey.com/the-ideal-faucet/" rel="nofollow">https://rogerdickey.com/the-ideal-faucet/
1. sublinear · 1789681713 · focus · HN ↗
  Hard disagree with that faucet design, but is a neat idea. I like my bathroom faucet as low maintenance as it already is.
  The use case for the full unmixed hot tap is hygiene (usually washing face and shaving).
  I also don't want any hot water mixed in when I'm washing my hands. The water coming out of the unmixed cold tap indicates the ambient temperature of the pipes. That's a feature, not a bug.
  1. discardable_dan · 1789682643 · focus · HN ↗
    You should use warm water when you're washing your hands.
    sublinear · 1789683805 · focus · HN ↗
    Why?
    I'm already upset enough about what the water heater water is doing to my skin and am about to go tankless under my bathroom sink!
    That's by far the more practical option anyway if we truly cared about the problem instead of fawning over engineer porn. The problem is solved. This is pointless engagement about temperature preference masquerading as something more interesting.
    mkmk · 1789684783 · focus · HN ↗
    Solubility is a function of temperature.
    maxerickson · 1789685104 · focus · HN ↗
    It used to be public health recommendation (bathrooms in commercial buildings will often only have warm water, for example, because code required it).
    There's been studies demonstrating that soap is what matters.
    IAmBroom · 1789738778 · focus · HN ↗
    The comment after yours, about solubility, casts serious doubt on those studies. Physics isn't changed by a faucet.
    maxerickson · 1789739665 · focus · HN ↗
    I mean, no it doesn't, first principles aren't worth more than actual outcomes.
    _ah · 1789741401 · focus · HN ↗
    Soap and friction do the work. But people are generally willing to wash for a longer period of time if the water temperature is comfortable.
    autoexec · 1789752406 · focus · HN ↗
    Anyone who has handwashed many dishes could tell you that cold water will work, but hot water works faster and with less effort. It's no different for your hands. For best results use hot water to wash your hands and cold water to rinse them then put some lotion on them if you worry about them drying out.

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