It often takes less than five seconds for 140-degree water to burn human skin. Add another 20 degrees to that temperature, and skin burns instantly. That doesn’t leave much room for error. You can avoid injuries like this by ensuring your water heater is set to a safe hot water temperature when it is installed by a water heater company Pleasanton, CA.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued guidelines that say a safe hot water temperature is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some manufacturers are producing water heaters that can heat water well beyond 120 degrees, and people who don’t know about the guidelines may have their heaters set too high for the safety of those in the home.

If you set the water heater temperature too high, you risk bringing water to your faucets that can severely burn your skin within seconds. As a water heater company will tell you, the challenge is that higher temperatures become significantly more dangerous, with each degree upwards on the thermometer. If you have guests in your home, or you accidentally turn the water on too hot, it may result in a serious burn. Not only that, but your system will use more energy, which ends up costing you more money.

So how do you maintain a safe hot water temperature? Typically, you merely have to adjust the thermostat on your home’s water heater. Most thermostats are fairly easy to find and read, but if you’re not sure, consult a water heater company or the manufacturer’s manual.