You need to be. Most of the hot-water tanks are not putting out water hot enough to really do any good. In an effort to save the planet and to protect children from scalding themselves, people who establish these regulations have the hot-water tanks set too low.

Only HOT water will kill the pathogens that cause disease. I tell my patients that if they can’t burn themselves at the sink, then the water tank needs to be adjusted.

You can remedy this by going to your tank, opening the little hatch, and turning the dial from warm or low to high or hot. That was easy.

Now, when you use the dishwasher, pathogens like Salmonella will die. When you wash the bedding, bed bugs and dust mites will die. Of course, you have to be in control of your children so that they don’t get burned.

Teach them that the faucet is a “not to be played with” item. A firm “NO!” will help and a sharp slap on the hand for disobedience may be necessary to complete the process.