A Thermostatic Control Valve, or TCV, is a deck-mounted anti-scald valve included with Ella thermostatic faucet packages. It blends hot and cold water to a set temperature before the water leaves the faucet, so the bath fills at a steady, safe temperature even if the hot or cold supply changes.

How It Works

The TCV sits on the deck next to the faucet with its own control handle and governor. Hot and cold supply lines feed into the valve, and a cartridge inside mixes them to the temperature you have set, factory-set at 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. If the cold supply drops, the valve limits the hot flow, and if the hot supply drops, it limits the cold, so the water at the spout stays consistent. That matters more in a walk-in tub than in a shower, because you cannot step out of the way of a temperature spike until the tub drains. Not every faucet configuration includes a TCV: the dual-lever 5-piece fast-fill faucet and the 2-piece fast-fill faucet are not thermostatic, and you set the temperature by hand with their levers. Details are in The Thermostatic Control Valve Explained.

Which Ella Models Have It

The TCV comes with the thermostatic faucet package rather than with a particular tub, so two tubs of the same model can differ. Ella's safety article names it as offered on the Elite (Model profile), Petite (Model profile), Royal (Model profile), Deluxe (Model profile) and Companion (Model profile), among others. Check your order confirmation, or look on the deck for a separate temperature handle beside the faucet. If you are not sure, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and serial number. If your configuration has no TCV, a qualified contractor can add an external temperature-control valve to the hot water line, though that may reduce flow and extend fill time.

What to Know as an Owner

The TCV carries a 1-year limited warranty, separate from the Lifetime Limited parts warranty on the rest of the tub. Cartridge sticking caused by calcium, iron or other heavy particles in the water is not covered, which is why an inline filter or mesh on the supply lines is required and must be cleaned periodically; see Hard Water and Your Tub. If the valve stops mixing or the handle will not move, the cartridge is usually fouled. Ella offers a cartridge-cleaning service for a nominal fee, and removal and cleaning should only be done by a licensed, insured contractor or plumber, as explained in TCV Cleaning and Cartridge Replacement. For a ticket, have your model, serial number, a photo of the valve on the deck, whether a filter is installed and a description of the symptom. Warranty terms are summarized in Warranty Exceptions: The TCV One-Year Warranty.

Common Questions