Stay Out of Hot Water
Those who have difficulty to getting out of harm's way quickly such as children, seniors, and the disabled, are at risk of scalds from hot water.
Hot beverages and food account for the majority of scalds. Always be mindful of safety when using appliances that contain hot liquids and food.
Hot water safety tips
- Keep containers of hot liquids, such as coffee pots, back from the edge of counters and tables.
- Turn pot handles away from burners.
- If you boil water in the microwave to make tea or hot chocolate, let the water stand for a minute before you add a teabag or chocolate powder.
- When carrying slow cookers and containers with hot food, be very sure the handles are secure and safe to handle the weight.
- Test water on your wrist before you get into a bath or shower. Run hot and cold water together starting with the cold.
- Never bathe your child in the sink while the dishwasher is running. Waste water can back up from the dishwasher and cause burns.
Low-flow showerheads and hot water safety
Low-flow showerheads interact with other plumbing devices in your home and are more sensitive to sudden pressure changes in a home's plumbing system.
Thermal shock can occur when different household appliances (i.e. toilets, bathroom/kitchen faucets) are in use at the same time as a showerhead. This may cause a sudden drop in water pressure to either the hot or cold water line of the showerhead, resulting in a sudden change in water temperature (hot or cold) coming out of the showerhead.
Thermal shock occurs when a rush of hot or cold water comes out of a plumbing fixture such as a showerhead and upon contact with the user startles them. When coming in contact with the sudden water temperature change the user may slip and fall from abrupt body movements and if the water is very hot it may cause scalding.
Adjust water temperature to 49 C at the end use side of your hot water system.
Prevent thermal shock
Some homes will have an automatic compensating mixing valve installed as part of the home's plumbing system, and are required to be tested and certified only at a flow rate of 9.5 L (2.5 gallons) per minute. Regardless of the type of showerhead that is currently in your home it is recommended that this valve be installed to help reduce any risks of thermal shock or scalding. However, when used in combination with a low-flow showerhead, the automatic compensating mixing valve may not provide protection.
Contact a licensed plumber with concerns about water pressure changes in your home's plumbing system or questions about automatic compensating mixing valves.
