My central heating is heating up to what I believe is a dangerous level. I am worried my little boy will burn himself on the radiators and hot water. I was advised to buy a thermometer to measure the heat (thank you Peccavi). The radiators went off the scale at 120 degrees F (48.8 degrees C) as did the hot water. The thermostat in the boiler has been turned down to minimum, but all this has done is make the shower run cold. My managing agents are being really unhelpful and sent me a bill for an engineer's callout as he found 'nothing wrong' with the system. I believe they didn't actually check the thermostat, just turned it down. Is this normal? The rads seem excessively hot to me.... thanks in advance for any help.

Carolyn, October 2008

There are no water temperature regulations for domestic premises but there are for care homes, hospitals and places of work etc.

This link may help

http://www.aquameridian.com/Hot%20Water%20Burns!.html

Your temperatures are not as severe as they might be. Safe at the kitchen sink and 5 deg C over at the bath which is not really into the danger level.

You may be a bit overly sensitive to hot water - my wife the other way - if we share bathwater I have to wait 20 mins before daring to get in! Our kitchen sink 55 deg C.

The link talks of devices called TMVs which blend hot and cold to get a lower temperature - no good for rads though.

From what you say about your temps I think your child is relatively safe apart from bathing unattended.

Stay cool...

Peccavi, October 2008