Don’t Get Burned at the Tap--Test First

Every year thousands of people are scalded by overheated tap water. When is hot water too hot? At 130 degrees, serious burns occur in 30 seconds. At 140 degrees, it takes only five seconds. And for the elderly and small children, it happens in half the time.

For injury prevention, water heaters should be set between 120 and 125 degrees, and for children, bathwater should be no more than 100 degrees. It’s a good practice to run some cold water first, then add hot, testing it with your hand.

To test your water temperature, run hot water until it has reached its peak, then fill a glass and use a thermometer. First fill and empty the glass a time or two to warm it. Then adjust your water-heater thermostat as needed. Whenever you make a change, wait 24 hours before retesting.