Your household’s water supply is something that you’re likely to tap into on multiple occasions throughout the day. From showering to washing your hands to doing the dishes, your skin is likely to make contact with water on a fairly consistent basis. Unfortunately, some homes are set up as such that they can only really accommodate water use on a “one fixture at a time basis.” If you ever had the displeasure of having been in the shower while another member of your household flushed the toilet and sent a sudden burning hot stream of water in your body’s direction, then you no doubt learned the hard way that your house’s plumbing setup is inadequately equipped for multitasking. As dangerous as an unexpected temperature change might be for you as an adult, if you have children, then you’ll want to take steps to protect them from getting scalded while bathing or even washing their hands.
As the director of Sales and Marketing at A&R Mechanical Services, a locally owned, full service Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning business that has been serving the Amarillo, Texas area since 1992, Blair Harris thinks that scalding is actually a fairly significant problem among certain types of households with older plumbing setups. Fortunately, there are ways to combat the issue and make your home much safer in the process.
If you have an older home, then a good way to minimize the chances of someone getting seriously burned is to have anti-scald valves installed on your plumbing fixtures. Anti-scald valves can respond to differences in water pressure, temperature, or both. While most new fixtures tend to incorporate such features, many older ones are not adequately equipped as such. If you’re looking to avoid problems with sudden water temperature changes, then a series of anti-scald valves is a good way to go.
Another option for preventing scalding is lowering the temperature setting on your household water heater. While this will not address the problem as effectively as the addition of anti-scald valves, it can help reduce the extent to which your home’s water can get hot – not to mention the fact that it might also help keep your heating bills to a minimum. Of course, one additional method of preventing scalding can involve having portions of your plumbing re-piped, though this is a complicated and costly alternative.
While scalding water tends to be more of a problem among older homes as opposed to newer ones, it never hurts to be diligent about this issue, especially if you have small children. If you’re thinking of buying new construction, then be sure to inquire as to whether or not such anti-scald features are being incorporated into your potential home’s plumbing system. While most modern day plumbing codes require that the issue of scalding be addressed from the get-go, it’s still a good idea to make sure that your builder is doing things by the books.
Remember, your household’s water supply is supposed to serve as a source of convenience, comfort, and cleanliness – not as a cause for medical concern. If scalding is a problem in your home, then it’s time to do something about it. By bringing in a plumbing professional to discuss your options for preventing scalding, you’ll be doing your part to make your house safer.
