Water Heaters, Not Specified
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Laundry & Household Appliances · CPSC Code 134
Down 30% over 5 years
The verdict
Water Heaters, Not Specified carry a danger score of 35/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 2,656 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 30% over the last five years.
- 35/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 2,656
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 6.8%
- end in hospital admission
- 35-44
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 134 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 35/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for water heaters, not specified - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume2,656 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)6.8%
- Fatality rate0.17%
- 5-year trend-30%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Water Heaters, Not Specified (CPSC product code 134, in the Laundry & Household Appliances category) generate an estimated 2,656 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 53,125 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 35/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 30% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2011 (4,197 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2022 (1,667 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for water heaters, not specified is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 5,583 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by strain, sprain to the lower trunk (4,509 cases). The 35-44 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 11,373 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 6.8% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer, and a small fraction (0.17%) result in fatality.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 50 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how water heaters, not specified fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,025 | 1,150 | |
| 5-14 | 882 | 860 | |
| 15-24 | 3,530 | 485 | |
| 25-34 | 8,456 | 1,765 | |
| 35-44 | 9,241 | 2,132 | |
| 45-54 | 8,540 | 1,575 | |
| 55-64 | 5,973 | 1,186 | |
| 65-74 | 2,721 | 1,195 | |
| 75+ | 1,566 | 846 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| All Parts Body | Anoxia | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Head | Laceration | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Hand | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Hand | Burns, Thermal | |
| Upper Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Upper Trunk | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Shoulder | Strain, Sprain | |
| Face | Burn, Scald |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
58YOM PRESENTS WITH CHEST WALL PAIN THAT STARTED WHILE HE WAS WORKING ON A HOT WATER HEATER AT HIS SON'S HOUSE. DX: CHEST PAIN
55YOM - MOVED A LARGE WATER HEATER AT HOME ABOUT 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO ARRIVAL - SHARP CHEST PAIN IN THE LOWER MID CHEST - DISCOMFORT IN BOTH ARMS LEFT GREATER THAN RIGHT - LITTLE BIT SWEATY AND LIGHTHEADED - DX: ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME, CHEST TIGHTNESS, HISTORY OF MI (MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION)
50YOM WATER HEATER FELL ON FINGERDX AVULSION FINGER
70YOF PRESENTS TO ED FOR LEFT FOOT PAIN AND SWELLING. PT WAS HELPING MOVE A WATER HEATER WHENMETAL FILE ACCIDENTALY FELL AROUND 4 DT HITTING HER THORUGH SLIPPERS ON TOP OF LEFT OFOT. HAD SOME BLEEDING IN PUNCTURE WOUND BUT NOT VERY DEEP. FOOT PAIN. DX: SWELLING OF LEFT FOOT
79YOM WITH C/O RIGHT SIDED ABDOMINAL PAIN OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS HE WAS MOVING A HOT WATER HEATER AT HOME AND THINKS HE STRAINED HIS BACK. DX: ABDOMINAL PAIN
39 YOM C/O INJ TO MID BACK AFTER MOVING A HEAVY WATER HEATER AT HOME DX MID THORACTIC BACK STRAIN
33YOM STATES THAT HE WAS WORKING ON A WATER HEATER WHEN HIS HAND SLIPPED AND HE SUSTAINED A LACERATION DX: LACERATION OF RIGHT FIFTH FINGER
35 YOM L UPPER ARM PAIN MOVING WATER HEATER DX; ARM STRAIN
69YOM WAS PULLING A WATER HEATER WITH HIS FOOT PLANTED AND FELT SOMETHING POP IN HIS RIGHT LATERAL THIGH. DX: RIGHT THIGH INJURY, CONTUSION (HEMATOMA) RIGHT THIGH
54YOM,LOWBACKPAIN AFTER INSTALLING WATER HEATER WITH FRIEND,SOME LIFTING,DX:LOWBACKPAIN
55YOM,MOVING WATER HEATER 1WK AGO AN CUT FINGER,SWELLING,DX:FINGER LAC
50 YOM MOVING HOT WATER HEATER AT HOME, CUT LOWER LEG DX LOWER LEG LACERATION
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
Water heater is failing due to steel connections provided with Richmond Water heater. Called company they said they would send same part even though it is faulty. Mind you the water heater is only 3 years old.
Bosch aqua star tankless water heater has faulty sensor. Results in water tempratures fluxuating between scalding hot and cold resulting in potential scalding injuries.
Caller is reporting that the water heater caused an electric shock when her spouse touched the unit . She stated that they had service call a few months after the unit was installed for hot water issues, however, the same incident occurred again. The manufacturer was contacted but they advised her that it was not something that they could assist her with. She stated that there is a problem with heating element and the water heater has not been in her home for a year as yet. Caller feels that this unit is a shock hazard and should be recalled.
The consumer indicates that he has had the Honeywell control valve of his A.O. Smith water heater (Model Number: G6-S4040NVR400) replaced four times under the Manufacturer's warranty because they continue to leak gas. 07/18/2020 - The consumer had the water heater replaced under warranty however it was also leaking gas. 08/04/2020 - The gas company red-tagged the water heater. The consumer contacted the Manufacturer and another replacement control valve was installed. 08/08/2020 - The consumer shut off his gas as he smelled it round his home. 08/10/2020 - A gas company technician turned off the gas to the water heater and red-tagged the unit once more. The consumer plans on contacting the warranty department once again.
Item - Hot water tank (for home). Issue: Catastrophic failure of circuit board failure; scorching - potential for fire in (plastic filled) unit. Manufacture: Rheem. Model number: HB50ES.
We've been using this hot water dispenser for maybe a year and a half https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W4DT2G9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1. One morning we lifted it by the carrying handle and it completely fell apart and dismantled itself. Luckily I didn't get burned but the chance was very high. Looking through the current reviews there are a few stories which match ours and even a few people who have had their forearms burned on the amazon page. This is a huge hazard as this thing boils hot water and the last thing people expect is it to fall apart when being held.
We purchased a Whirlpool water heater in 2010. On July 12th, 2014, we noticed a burning smell in the house. The smell was coming from the energy smart control box located on top of the water heater. The box had overheated and had melted. Upon researching this issue, I found numerous complaints regarding this box overheating. Whirlpool was contacted and have agreed to ship a new control panel. Even though the water heater is under warranty, Whirlpool wants me to install the replacement part. I'm a little concerned that this is a known issue and no steps have been taken by Whirlpool to fix this problem. The results could have been serious had we not been home and awake.
The [REDACTED] Volunteer Fire Department responded to TWO incidents involving the SAME water heater brands on the same date. Weather was dry and cool, and units are older but what seems odd is that they were same make and model on same date.
Showing 8 of 50 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to water heaters, not specified on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are water heaters, not specified?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, water heaters, not specified have a danger score of 35/100 (low risk). An estimated 2,656 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from water heaters, not specified?
The most common injury is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 5,583 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from water heaters, not specified increasing or decreasing?
Down 30% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for water heaters, not specified injuries?
The 35-44 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 11,373 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by water heaters, not specified?
Of all ER visits involving water heaters, not specified, approximately 6.8% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (93.2%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with water heaters, not specified?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Laundry & Household Appliances
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 35/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 35-44 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
