Chapter 12.5

Section § 25965

Explanation

tl_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 tl_degrees tl_Fahrenheit (54 tl_degrees tl_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.

tl_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:
“tl_Warning: Setting of the water heater thermostat in excess of 130 tl_degrees tl_Fahrenheit or 54 tl_degrees tl_centigrade may cause accidental scalding or other injury, particularly to children or elderly persons.”
tl_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.
tl_water heater warning tl_thermostat label tl_residential water heaters tl_accidental scalding tl_children safety tl_elderly safety tl_temperature warning tl_public utilities tl_water heater safety tl_heater thermostat 130 tl_degrees tl_Fahrenheit 54 tl_degrees tl_centigrade tl_new water heater sale tl_warning label requirement
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 268, Sec. 1.)