Abstract: A valve assembly 30 includes a pressure balancer 38 and a water mixing control element 150. Hot and cold water flow through pressure balancer 38 and a throttle plate 200 and into a mixing chamber 144 where selected amounts of the hot and cold water are mixed to a temperature level selected by a user. If the pressure of the cold water changes, the pressure balancer 38 responds and adjusts the amount of hot water flowing to the mixing chamber 144 to maintain the temperature of the mixed water as initially selected. If the cold water pressure fails, pressure balancer 38 responds and turns off the hot water to prevent scalding the user. Pressure balancer 38 responds in similar fashion to changes or failure in the pressure of the hot water.