Review commissioning and previous service records. Repeated temperature instability, scale, restricted flow or failed tests may require corrective work and a revised programme. Moving the next visit closer does not repair an unsuitable installation.
HSE's guidance on hot and cold water systems explains how scalding prevention sits alongside legionella control, including particular considerations for healthcare and care settings.
Separate the activities on the schedule
Describe routine monitoring, the applicable performance tests and servicing as distinct tasks. Include manufacturer-specified cleaning, inspection or component attention where required. Record the test method and acceptance criteria rather than relying on a generic pass box.
Mixed outlet temperature and upstream supply temperatures answer different questions. A comfortable outlet reading does not establish that the hot-water distribution meets the site's hygiene controls. Keep the valve programme connected to the wider water-management arrangements without treating it as a substitute for them.
HSE's technical guidance, HSG274 Part 2, provides the broader hot and cold water system context.
Make each visit useful
Provide the valve list, previous findings, manufacturer information and access arrangements. Identify the person who can authorise repairs and any temporary restriction on the outlet. Occupied premises may need alternative washing facilities while work is carried out.
The record should identify the valve and location, tasks completed, observations, results, repairs and outstanding actions. An inaccessible valve remains an incomplete task. Give it a named follow-up action rather than allowing it to disappear inside an otherwise completed visit.
Frequently asked questions
Does an annual service cover every requirement?
Not automatically. The actual programme may contain different monitoring, testing and servicing activities. Follow the valve instructions and applicable setting-specific requirements, using assessment and results to establish the complete schedule.
What happens if a valve fails a test?
The finding needs a defined response, including the decision about continued outlet use and the repair or replacement required. Retain the failure and corrective-action records together. A later passing result should identify the work or change that preceded it.
Should a new owner continue the previous schedule?
Review the inherited information first. Confirm the valve types, users, recent results and whether the system has changed. Keep effective arrangements running while resolving missing records; an ownership change does not make outstanding defects disappear.
Related reading and services
Read what a thermostatic mixing valve does and water-temperature monitoring. Explore TMV servicing and testing, planned maintenance or discuss your valve programme.