Learn if it’s safe to shower during a power outage.
Most of the time, we think of our home’s plumbing and electrical systems as separate. One doesn’t affect the other. But a power outage can change everything. You might think a bath or shower by candlelight can be a relaxing change of pace, but you might want to rethink that assumption. So the question remains, is it safe to shower during a power outage? Let’s find out.
Potential Problems
Tankless water heaters need electrical power to run. Without electricity, you won’t get the hot water that you’re expecting. Since there’s no reservoir of water, there isn’t much it can do. This means that you’ll only have cold water, and that isn’t very much fun to shower in unless it’s been a scorching hot day. Plus, electric water heaters will, as their name implies, need power to work. This means that the tank will have some hot water left from before. The only complication is that you can’t gauge how much you have left that you can use. You probably aren’t the only person in your household who would like to clean up, either. Finally, you will have to think about hot water heaters that rely on gas. Older systems still use a pilot light to ignite, so that means it should be fine for the time being. Newer systems will use electricity to some degree, even if it is still gas-powered. So the hot water could change to cold with almost no warning,
Safety Concerns
Being struck by lightning while you are in the shower is unlikely. Even so, if you feel uncomfortable doing it, then it’s probably better if you avoid it. If anything the more pressing danger comes from not being able to see in the dark. Battery-powered lamps are best for this task since if you use candles or gas lamps, they could end up starting a fire. You can also get a backup generator if you wish to do so.
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