A water circulating system including a water control fixture having an
operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed
in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water
temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot
water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the
bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The
bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive
to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an
interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various
passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between
the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass
valve can be positioned in the operating valve, which can include the
moveable ball or replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types of
valves.