When something goes wrong at home that you didn’t see coming, you tend to react in one of two ways: “I should have known better”, or “This is the last thing I would have expected!”

If it’s a simple mishap, it’s easy to laugh it off. You know, like touching a wall or door after it’s been freshly painted. Doesn’t really matter if you forgot or weren’t forewarned. At worst, it’s a minor inconvenience.

Then again, things can happen in or outside your home that require immediate attention, like a problem with your water heater. Here’s just some of what can go wrong.

• Scalding – Children and seniors are especially vulnerable to accidental scalding. To play it safe, we recommend keeping the temperature at 120 degrees.
• Carbon Monoxide Leaks – Carbon monoxide is a leading cause of accidental poisoning, and one that can be prevented with proper and attentive care. Carbon monoxide can leak from any fuel burning appliance, including your gas water heater.
• Natural Gas Leaks – Natural gas has a rotten egg smell which aids in prompt detection and evacuation. Don’t take chances – get everyone outdoors as quickly as possible and call the gas company from a safe distance. Since natural gas is highly combustible, don’t turn on any lights near your water heater.
• Accidental Fire – Keep all flammable objects – like paper or oily rags – far away from your water heater tank.

Other things can go wrong with a water heater, like internal rust and corrosion, a sudden loss of hot water, a broken thermostat, and more.

To be on the safe side and protect your investment in a steady supply of hot water, have your water heater inspected once a year by a qualified plumbing professional.

It’s also a good idea to install a smoke detector nearby. At Now Security Systems, we are home security specialists well trained in protecting your home and family – and that includes smoke and CO detector installation plus system monitoring. For more information and a free in-home proposal, contact us today.