Valve with heating element

1. A plumbing fixture comprising:

a body;

a valve provided within the body and having an internal passageway configured to route fluid through the valve, wherein the internal passageway comprises a surface and at least a portion of the valve comprises a thermally-conductive material;

a bore in the body extending from the valve toward an outlet of the body;

a liner within the bore, the liner comprising a thermally-conductive material and including a fluid passageway for receiving fluid from the valve; and

an electric heating element in direct contact with the liner and disposed between the liner and the body, wherein the heating element is configured to heat at least a portion of the liner to an elevated temperature sufficient to disinfect the liner.

2. The plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a mixer valve.

3. The plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the plumbing fixture is selected from the group consisting of a faucet, a shower head, and a bath spout.

4. The plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a flow control valve.

5. The plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is a resistive wire heater.

6. The plumbing fixture of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second heating element disposed in a bore of the valve and configured to heat the surface of the valve through the thermally-conductive material of the valve to a temperature sufficient to disinfect the surface.

7. The plumbing fixture of claim 6 , wherein the second heating element is configured to heat the surface of the valve to a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius.

8. The plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is configured to heat the portion of the liner to a temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be present on the liner.

9. The plumbing fixture of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling the heating element.

10. The plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein each thermally-conductive material comprises a copper-containing material.

11. The plumbing fixture of claim 10 , wherein the copper-containing material is brass.

12. The plumbing fixture of claim 1 , wherein the valve is received within the body of the plumbing fixture.

13. A water delivery component comprising:

a mixer valve comprising:

a valve body formed at least in part of a thermally-conductive material;

a first inlet into the valve body that is configured to receive a first fluid from a first fluid source;

a second inlet into the valve body that is configured to receive a second fluid from a second fluid source; and

a mixing chamber within the valve body that is configured to mix the first and second fluids;

a passageway fluidly connected to an outlet of the mixer valve;

a thermally-conductive liner disposed within the passageway, the liner having a bore through which fluid from the mixer valve may flow; and

a heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the liner to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be present within the bore of the liner.

14. The water delivery component of claim 13 , wherein the water delivery component is selected from the group consisting of a faucet, a shower head, and a bath spout.

15. The water delivery component of claim 13 , wherein the heating element is an electric resistive wire heater.

16. The water delivery component of claim 13 , further comprising:

a controller located proximate the mixer valve for controlling the heating element; and

a sensor extending into the bore, wherein the sensor detects a value comprising at least one of a temperature and a flow rate of the mixed fluid in the bore and communicates the detected value to the controller.

17. The water delivery component of claim 13 , wherein the first and second inlets are provided in the same surface of the valve body.

18. The water delivery component of claim 13 , wherein the first and second inlets are provided in opposed surfaces of the valve body.

19. The water delivery component of claim 13 , wherein each thermally-conductive material comprises a copper-containing material.

20. The water delivery component of claim 13 , wherein the valve is configured to be provided within the water delivery component.

21. A water delivery system comprising:

a valve comprising:

a valve body formed at least in part of a thermally-conductive material;

a waterway extending through the valve body and configured to route fluid through the valve body, wherein the waterway comprises a surface; and

a fixture body comprising:

an inner wall defining at least part of an internal passageway fluidly connected to the waterway of the valve; and

a recessed area extending from the inner wall;

an electric heater disposed in the recessed area of the fixture body and configured to heat at least a portion of the fixture body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be resident on the portion;

a controller in communication with the heater for controlling the operation of the heater;

a sensor extending from the valve body into the waterway, wherein the sensor detects a value comprising at least one of a temperature and a flow rate of the fluid in the waterway and communicates the detected value to the controller; and

a liner disposed in the recessed area, such that the heater is provided between the liner and the fixture body, wherein the liner comprises a copper-containing material and is in direct contact with the heater.

22. The water delivery of claim 21 , wherein the value is a mixer valve.

23. The water delivery system of claim 21 , wherein the water delivery system comprises a component that is selected from the group consisting of a faucet, a shower head, and a bath spout.

24. The water delivery system of claim 21 , wherein the valve is a flow control valve.