Water Heater Safety: A Few Important Do’s and Don’ts to Keep in Mind

Whether you actively think about your hot water or not, it’s important to know what basic water heater safety entails.

Indoor plumbing might date all the way back to 2500 B.C., but hot water heaters are a relatively new technology in the world. While you might not even think about them on a daily basis, the truth is that they’re essential to most of your bathing, dishwashing, and laundry doing activities. That is, unless you still heat your bathwater by hand!

Here are a few water heater safety dos and don’ts to keep in mind.

 

DO: Have your water heater properly sized

When it comes to water heaters, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. For a successful water heater installation, you should have it accurately sized so it’s proportionate to your home.

DO: Set the temperature below 120 degrees

You might think water is harmless, but if your tankless water heater is set over 120 degrees, you could experience some serious burns. Safety comes before any hot shower.

DON’T: Keep things huddled around your heater

This is without a doubt one of the biggest fire hazards in your home, yet most homeowners have no idea. When your hot water heater is operating, make sure you keep any combustible materials at least 18 inches away from it at all times. Sure, the basement might seem like a great place to hide presents this holiday season, but if something catches fire you’ll be in real trouble.

DO: Have your heater inspected regularly

Whether you notice your water heater leaking or other water heater problems, or even nothing at all, it’s important to have it inspected at least once every year. This will ensure that water heater leaking isn’t an issue and that your water heater installation was successful.

DON’T: Wait to call for repairs

If you were to notice plumbing problems, you wouldn’t hesitate to call a plumber. In the same vein, you shouldn’t wait to call for repairs if you notice water heater problems. The sooner you get your water heater looked at, the sooner you can get to that hot shower! Otherwise, you’ll have no choice but to take cold showers in the middle of winter.

These are only a few of the many do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when handling a hot water heater, but they are some of the most important.