Waterheater at 130 means no need for filters, showered changes etc?!
I had an email exchange with Dr Falkinham (the scientist who does all the work on exposure to NTM, especially in water sources) asking whether raising the temperature of the home water heater meant you do not have to use special filters or shower heads. As much as I have read this (and the NTM) forums, I did not understand the answer to this. It seems like so many people on here are only doing tub baths (me) or buying special and replacing special filters or shower heads. His reply is below and would indicate that we don't need to make any of those other changes if we raise our water heater temperature to 130 or above. This seems like such as easy fix compared to all of the other undertakings.
Dear Tamara:
Thank you for your reply and request for further information.
In a study of Philadelphia suburb patients, we discovered that raising the water heater temperature setting to 130 F or higher led to the disappearance of Mycobacterium avium from samples of household water, including showerheads.
That might surprise some as a showerhead will be delivering both heater (hot) and unheated water (cold). Yes, the source of water from the water heater is cold water, but in most municipalities the water delivered to homes has low numbers of NTM. My colleagues and I believe that the water heater is where NTM grow and are mixed with the cold.
We haven't tested "tank-less" or "instant" water-heaters, but logic suggests there should be no growth of NTM, as those water heaters don't have a large tank.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
Another tip from Dr. Falkinham when he presented to my support group is that anytime you return to a winter home, stay in an AirBnb, etc., where you're not sure how long it's been since the water has been used, wear a mask and run every faucet, tub, shower, and flush all the toilets (and make it a practice to close the toilet lid before flushing).
Laurel
Ugh, "... I think if we had left it in at 135 the entire time we were away..." please don't! Both my Mom and my neighbor returned to horrible messes when they returned to their seasonal homes and the water heaters had failed and leaked. We actually drain ours when we leave in the Spring, refill and heat it up for several hours, run it to empty (only a 20 gal tank - we have a tiny house) and then begin using it
Luckily I caught mine just as it started after a return from a vacation. I now turn my water off at the meter when I am going to be away for a while and especially in cold winter weather. I understand from a plumber that the high temperatures we need to kill bacteria with can also cause the hot water heater to begin leaking sooner than a "normal" time frame for the water heater. Always something and always choices.
Barbara