Special offer

Getting Steamed!

By
Home Inspector with King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. Home Inspector Lic #207

I would say that, more often than not, at home inspections I find that the hot water temperature is set higher than 120 degrees F.  Folks, the hottest water can be and still be considered a safe temperature is 120 degrees.

The higher it is, over that temperature, the more probability there is that someone will receive a serious scalding burn. This is especially true of children or older people. I knew of a man, in the UK, who got severally burned in a motel. The water was set very hot and he was unfamiliar with the shower. He was hospitalized but never really recovered and died shortly thereafter. For specific information on the topic, you can follow this link below.

Dr Spock on hot water

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

GeoLogo207

Posted by

Steven L. Smith

If you enjoy nostalgia and music of yesteryear, click on Elvis' gold record to visit This Day In History. To explore The Stories Behind The Music blog posts click on the electric guitar. 

 

        

 

 

 

 

Comments (10)

Charles Perkins
Charles G. Perkins, CPA - Burien, WA

The adjustment on hot water heaters is not very precise.  Perhaps in time manufacturers will make it easier to set the temperature more precisely.

Oct 17, 2009 08:09 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Steve, Good point. Generally speaking, I typically find water heaters that are undersized are also the ones that are over heated. Many folks do not correlate tank size with reserve volume ☺☺☺ 

Helping you live your American dream...

Oct 17, 2009 08:43 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

Excellent suggestion and very important even for our own homes. . .

Oct 17, 2009 11:10 PM
Terry Miller
Miller Homes Group - Tyler, TX
Miller Homes Group and Tyler Apartment Locator

Thanks of course for the great info. Safety is a concern and most folks fail to check the water heater,

Oct 18, 2009 01:24 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

The hottest water I ever found in a house was a doctors house----152 degrees----just said he liked his water hot!

Oct 18, 2009 02:17 AM
Theodora Wu
TJ Investments - Burien, WA

A homeowner that is not careful might run into more than one kind of hot water.  If McDonalds can be sued for hot coffee.  I am sure that homeowners might face guests that sue because they got seriously scalded or landlord's sued by tenants when they or their friends get hurt.  Then there will more than enough hot water to go around.

Oct 18, 2009 08:54 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

How do I measure my water temperature?  I now know all abut TPV valves so I need to move forward.

Oct 18, 2009 01:27 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Dear Godmother,

Simply run the hot faucet at the sink into a glass. Have a meat thermometer in the glass. Run it awhile to see how hot it gets. Do not burn your precious little hand.

Adoring Godson Nutsy

 

Oct 18, 2009 01:38 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Good post Steve.  I tell my clients 115 to 120 max.

Oct 18, 2009 11:06 PM
Paul Duffau
Safe@Home Inspections, LLC in SE Washington - Asotin, WA
Caring for People, Educating about Homes

My record was 157 degrees on an old, old (50+ years old) National water heater.  No TPR vavle.  It was a mite concerning.

The selling agent tried to agrue that it was still working so it was okay. 

Oct 20, 2009 04:00 AM