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Love at 120-degrees!
How hot is too hot? That’s a relative question, right? Not anymore!Borrowing the tagline from my family’s favorite take’n bake pizza place I have some interesting facts that I have learned concerning the best and safest operating temperature of your hot water supply.
First, 104 degrees (F) is the temperature considered safe for bathing. That’s why hot tub thermostats have a maximum temperature setting of 104. But this is not the temperature of our hot water tanks to for water cools as it travels through the pipes to our sinks and tubs. Our dishwashers also use this hot water so they can boost the water to cleaning temperatures. All hot water tanks (or tankless systems) should be safely set to 120-degrees Fahrenheit.
If a child or elderly person were to were to be directly exposed to 120-degrees (F) it would take approximately 5 minutes for a third degree burn – the most serious type of burn. That’s why we are careful to add cold water when filling the tub for our children when they are little.
Things only get more dangerous as the temperature increases. Simply adjusting the temperature up five degrees can result in a third degree burn in 2 minutes with water that is 125-degrees. Look at this…
125 degrees F – burns occur in 2 minutes
130 degrees F – burns occur 10 seconds
140 degrees F – burns occur in 3 seconds
148 degrees F – burns occur 2 seconds
155 degrees F – burns occur 1 second
While these are approximate values and few of us have a meat thermometer sitting next to our bathtub and sinks, we all recognize the seriousness of what these numbers show. Love at 120-degrees! Otherwise you run the risk of harm
