Dangers of hot water heaters in homes

It’s impossible to imagine winters without hot water heaters. The use of hot water heaters during the cold icy months is almost like oxygen is for breathing. But though they are extremely useful and make life simple for all, hot water heaters are highly dangerous if proper caution is not taken while using them. Ever so often, a story hits the local newspaper of a house fire caused by water heaters. But dangers from hot water heaters are higher with gas heaters as it can lead to serious explosions. Also, the heavy usage of these hot water heaters during the winter months creates more chances of accidents in homes. Household water heaters require attention to safety during purchase, installation and use. Choosing the right type of water heater, setting it to the right temperature and proper maintenance from time to time are crucial steps to keep you and your family safe. Here are some points you should keep in mind.

Buy the right hot water heater- Winter is showing no signs of leaving and your old hot water heater is already giving trouble. Don’t avoid buying a new one to avoid any accidents. So this time choose the right hot water heater in terms of size and the outer body. Install the appropriate size of hot water heater for your home. Carefully consider the type of heater to buy, whether electric, gas, or other. Gas heaters are more efficient, but safety considerations such as venting and the pilot flame need to be considered.

Water Temperature-   A hot water shower has a number of benefits but don’t forget that the temperature of the water should be just right. If water is too hot it could not only cause burns in young and infirm but could also lead to dryer scalp and moisture less skin in adults. The right temperature can thus be set with a help of the right hot water heater since good quality hot water heaters always have temperature adjuster. If the water is hotter than 120⁰F or 48⁰C, it has the potential to cause severe burns. Keeping it at the right setting will protect your family and reduces energy use. Therefore you will spend less on your electricity bill as well.

Maintenance – Call a professional over to inspect and clean your water heater annually. A hot water heater works best if the interiors are kept clean and sediment is not allowed to accumulate. Besides, the interiors of the hot water heaters get spoilt much more if salt content in the water is high(hard water). Check with the local authorities if you get poor quality water in your area. Such accumulation could cause the tank to fail early in its life. Check for any leakages. Such water leaks not only waste precious water but often give an electric shock in the water tap, when the heater is turned on. Children can therefore be at a greater risk. Getting the hot water heater checked regularly will also help you save money on the thermostat that often gets spoilt in the winter months.

If you are using gas water heaters, make sure you have a carbon monoxide meter that tells you the levels of the carbon monoxide in your house. If the levels are high, then the chances of fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning increase a lot more. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, weakness, nausea, dizziness, chest pain and vomiting. To avoid all this, we suggest you use electric and solar water heaters that are safe and extremely energy efficient.

Photo by Cote.