Tips for Avoiding Tap Water Scalds in any Home

Each year, approximately 3,800 injuries and 34 deaths occur in the home due to scalding from excessively hot tap water. The majority of these accidents involve the elderly and children under the age of five. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges all users to lower their water heaters to a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to preventing accidents, this decrease in temperature will conserve energy and save money.

Most adults will suffer third-degree burns if exposed to 150 degree water for two seconds, a six-second exposure to 140 degree water, or a thirty second exposure to 130 degree water. Even if the temperature is 120 degrees, a five minute exposure could result in third-degree burns.

Electric water heaters: Call your local electric company to adjust the thermostat. Some companies offer this service at no-charge. Hot water should not be used for at least two hours prior to setting. To make the adjustment yourself, start by shutting off current to the water heater, then turn off the circuit breaker to the heater or remove the fuse that serves the heater. Most electric water heaters have two thermostats, both of which must be set to a common temperature for proper operation. To reach these thermostats you must remove the upper and lower access panels. Adjust the thermostat following the instructions provided with the appliance. Hold a meat thermometer under the faucet to check water temperature.

Gas water heaters: Because thermostats differ, call your local gas company for instructions. Where precise temperatures are not given, hold a meat thermometer under the faucet for most accurate reading first thing in the morning or at least two hours after water use. If reading is too high, adjust thermostat on heater, according to manufacturer’s instructions, and check again with thermometer.

Furnace heater: If you do not have an electric, gas, or oil-fired water heater, you probably have an on- line hot water system. Contact your fuel supplier to have the temperature lowered. If you live in an apartment, contact the building manager to discuss possible options for lowering your tap water temperature. Reducing water temperature will not affect the heating capacity of the furnace.

The CPSC notes that a thermostat setting of 120 degrees Fahrenheit may be necessary for residential water heaters to reduce or eliminate the risk of most tap water scald injuries. Consumers should consider lowering the thermostat to the lowest settings that will satisfy hot water needs for all clothing and dish washing machines.

Never take hot water temperature for granted. Always hand-test before using, especially when bathing children and infants. Leaving a child unsupervised in the bathroom, even if only for a second, could cause serious injuries. Your presence at all times is the best defense against accidents and scaldings.

Various anti-scald devices are available and should be installed by a qualified contractor to reduce the potential for injury. These devices include mixing valves and anti-scald valves. An excellent resource on these devices can be found at http://inspectapedia.com/BestPractices/MixingValves2.htm and http://inspectabpedia.com/heat/MixingValves.htm.

* Portions excerpted from CPSC Tap Water Scalds Doc. #5098