Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Legionnaire's disease,Our Blog on August 20, 2026
Who wouldn’t love unlimited hot water while taking a nice soak in the bathtub or a hot shower? This is one of the many reasons that people consider tankless water heaters when building or upgrading their own homes. Do tankless hot water heaters provide safe water though? Today we take a look at this and the options that are out there when it comes to having the best and safest hot water.
Tank-type water heaters store and heat water in a large tank. They maintain a preset temperature, ensuring that hot water is available at all times. Water is heated by an energy source like gas or electricity and kept warm until needed. This design, while convenient, can lead to energy losses due to the need to maintain the water temperature in the tank, known as standby heat loss.
The quality of the hot water can be influenced by how well the tank is maintained. Initially, the hot water from tank-type heaters is of good quality, as it is heated and stored at the desired temperature. However, over time, sediment and minerals may accumulate at the bottom of the tank, affecting water quality.
On the other hand, tankless water heaters, also known as on-demand heaters, heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit, where it is heated by either a gas burner or an electric element. This means that water is heated as it is needed, providing a constant supply.
The quality of hot water from tankless heaters is generally good because it is fresh and not stored for extended periods. There’s less risk of water sitting in a tank and potentially accumulating sediments or contaminants.
If water is left in pipes for more than four hours, you should let it run for about 30 seconds before drinking. This guarantees the removal of stale water, which may contain impurities from the pipes and materials it has come into contact with. The same applies to water from the water heater tank, where the water stays for hours.
Water temperature exacerbates the situation as water is a solvent. Heating increases the migration of metals into the water – for example, the solubility of lead in water is twice as high at 77°F as at 59°F. It’s not just lead; some other toxic metals could be found in water pipes, fittings, fixtures, and other products, such as copper, galvanized iron, stainless steel, and even plastic. Different elements can leach into the water.
Overnight, for example, the values of copper, lead, or nickel from the fittings can be exceeded. Moreover, the development of bacteria may increase, especially with plastic pipes.
In addition to traces of lead in the water, one of the best-known threats is Legionnaires’ disease. However, there are many misunderstandings about it. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella – tiny rod-shaped bacteria that can only multiply in stagnant water. If inhaled with contaminated water vapor, Legionella can cause disease. On the other hand, there is no high risk of infection if germinated water is drunk or used for washing hands.
With all of this information regardless of the type of water heating system you have be it a tank or tankless there should be routine maintenance to ensure that your water quality is top notch, and you can enjoy not only safe drinking and cooking water but also a nice soak if your heart desires.
For more up to date information about Legionnaire’s Disease and other water safety information please keep an eye on Make Food Safe.