Singing in the shower has to be one of America’s all-time favorite past times. Not necessarily for the listeners, but most certainly for the “vocalists.”
Well, singing isn’t the only sound that sometimes emanates from bathroom. In fact, high up on that same list is screaming, where the screamer is often a child or an elderly person who are less prepared than others to dodge the sudden turn of water temperature from normal hot to scalding hot.
Every single day, in fact, the following scenario – or, one very much like it – plays itself out in homes all across the nation:
- A family member hops in the shower right after testing it by hand to make sure the temperature is just right.
- Things seem to be going along swimmingly, when all of a sudden the water
temperature turns scalding hot, and a scream to wake the dead pours forth with bone-chilling alarm.
- If the person is nimble and agile enough, they can either turn off the shower or get out of the way of the hot water stream quickly enough to avoid any serious damage.
- Smaller children, some elder family members, or those with disabilities, however, might not be so fortunate and go on to receive burns severe enough to require medical attention. Plus, they rely on another family member to put an end to the dilemma faster than they can on their own.
Just how widespread are bathroom burns from scalding hot water temperatures? According to the American Burn Association, 24,000 children are treated each year for scalding burns, while 500,000 people of all ages require medical treatment from the same cause.
How You Can Prevent Bathroom Burns in Your Home
At Norhio Plumbing, we install anti-scald valves for use in showers, bathroom sinks, and even kitchen sinks for the protection of the many home owners – and their family members – we’re privileged to serve.
Let’s say, for example, you’re taking a shower and your hot water thermostat is properly set at 120 degrees F. Then, all of a sudden, another family member turns on a cold water faucet or flushes a toilet, etc. That action, in effect, tells your plumbing system to send more cold water to the faucet or toilet. That, in turn, takes cold water away from where you’re showering or washing up, thus allowing the hot water temperature to rise dramatically. And that’s exactly what an anti-scald valve is designed to prevent.
During the installation process, we’ll also check your water heater to ensure it’s properly set at 120 degrees. Anything higher further increases the likelihood of accidental scalding.
Contact Norhio Plumbing today for more information or to schedule installation of one or more anti-scald valves in your home. Providing added home safety through plumbing is one of the things we do best.
