Chapter 12.5Water Heaters

Section § 25965

Explanation

This law requires that all new residential water heaters sold in California have a warning label placed near the thermostat. The label must caution against setting the thermostat higher than 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius) as it can cause scalding, especially for children and the elderly. Public utilities are not responsible for putting these labels on or warning residents about existing water heaters.

A warning label shall be affixed near the thermostat of all new water heaters to be sold in the state for residential use. This warning shall read as follows:
“Warning: Setting of the water heater thermostat in excess of 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 54 degrees centigrade may cause accidental scalding or other injury, particularly to children or elderly persons.”
The Legislature does not intend by the enactment of this section to impose any duty on public utilities to affix this warning label or otherwise warn their customers relative to existing water heaters.
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(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 268, Sec. 1.)