For many years the standard temperature of hot water has been set at 60°C. Though, water at 60°C may induce third-degree burns in most grown-ups for six seconds. Third-degree burns are extremely dangerous type; they injure all layers of the skin.
Tap Water Scalds
Small kids, with their tender skin, may experience a severe hot water burn just for one second. Elderly people and the handicapped are more predisposed to serious scalds. These wounds can be extremely hurting. For a child, a serious scalding may need years of hospital treatment. An elderly person may even die because of a scalding.
As a means to deter scalds, injury prevention supporters have lobbied to have settings on home hot water tanks lowered to 49°C from the previous 60°C standard.
Bacteria
The same as standards of home hot water must take into consideration scald deterrence, they must also concern a wide range of public health and safety points. In order to reduce to minimum bacteria pollution, water should be kept at 60°C or even higher.
For instance, temperatures lower than 50°C may boost the jeopardy of Legionnaires’ illness, a kind of pneumonia, because of bacteria increase in the tank. That illness is caused by Legionnella bacteria that live in water. Temperature is a serious factor for these bacteria to grow. The hazard of colonization in hot water is important between 40°C and 50°C.
Tips for Taps
So, what should we do? Lower the temperature to 50°C and take a risk of different bacteria or keep suffering from scalding?
This question is extremely controversial and perplexing. What is the best decision?
The conclusion is that water should be stored at a high temperature to prevent bacteria disease. And it may be delivered from the faucet at a lower temperature to deter scalding. The majority of people lower the temperature as the water runs out by mixing cold and hot water.
The key preventive measures are the following:
• Never let a kid stay alone when drawing
water in a bathtub and test the water temperature prior to placing your kid in.
• Check the temperature of the water prior to taking shower.
• Switch the cold water on first, and then add hot water till the temperature is appropriate.
• Teach your kids to switch the cold water on first and the hot water off first.
In case the water running out of your faucet is to hot, you may mount valves in the plumbing pipes to lower the temperature of the water delivered at the faucet by combining with chiller water. Another alternative is to set up anti-scald appliances at individual faucets. They slow the water to the trickle if it is too hot.
In households with small kids or elderly people, it may be suitable to turn down the temperature of the tank with hot water. For those people feeling forced to do so, it recommended to lower the temperature to no less than 54°C. If you are not certain how to make the modification, employ an experienced plumber to do the job.
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