Water Heater Safety Tips
Tips
Follow these safety tips to keep your family safe and your water heater working efficiently.
- Don't let dust, lint or dirt block the air intakes at the bottom of your tank
- Use insulation blankets and commercial pipe wraps that are approved for gas water heaters
- Keep pipe wraps at least 15 cm (6 inches) away from a steel chimney
- Make sure insulation doesn't slip and cover the burner control or an air intake
- Secure insulation using straps provided by the manufacturer no tape
Reduce your tank temperature
Stay Safe and Save
You can reduce your energy consumption and keep your family safe by lowering your water heater temperature to 54°C (130°F).
But don't set your tank's temperature too low the water needs to be at least 50°C to prevent the growth of bacteria.
If you're not sure how hot the water in your tank is, here's how to test the temperature:
- Don't use any hot water for several hours
- Find a faucet near the water heater
- Turn on the hot water, let it run for a few minutes, then fill a coffee mug
- Insert a cooking thermometer into the mug
- If the temperature is above 54°C, reduce the water heater temperature
- Your water tank control may only show "hot" and "warm". "Hot" is approximately 60°C/140°F. Try dialing down one mark, then retest the water temperature the next day.