Water Heater Risks Remain Low Despite 2022 Incidents, Experts Advise Homeowner Caution

Concerns over water heater safety were addressed at the recent Village Board meeting, where officials highlighted the low risk associated with water heater replacements. In 2020, there were only 50 non-fire carbon dioxide poisoning deaths linked to over 9 million water heaters sold, underscoring the rarity of serious incidents.

In 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 108 domestic water heater-related incidents, with only two involving actual mechanical pressure explosions. Experts noted that these failures typically occur years after installation, often when pressure relief valves fail, rather than during new installations.

The discussion emphasized that homeowners frequently replace water heaters without significant risk. "The risk of swapping out a water heater is exceptionally low," one official stated, pointing out that many units are routinely replaced as part of home maintenance.

The meeting also touched on the importance of homeowners' rights to repair their own properties, with one member asserting, "One of the rights of owning a home should be the right to pick up a hammer, pick up a wrench, and repair your home when it needs to be repaired."

This conversation reflects a broader commitment to ensuring safety while empowering homeowners to manage their own repairs effectively.