Unfounded rumors have proliferated online, cautioning Pakistanis against using electric water heaters on the grounds that they provide a risk of electrocution if left on while taking a shower.
The assertion is false.
Declare
On November 30, a user on platform X, formerly known as Twitter, posted, “Please make sure to switch off your electric geyser when taking a shower.” “Retweet this to help save lives,” please.
Along with the post, the user included a brief animation that depicted a man getting electrocuted for neglecting to turn off the electric water heater before having a bath.
To date, the video has received over 5,000 likes, 4,000 reposts, and around 700,000 views.
Reality
According to experts, there is a danger that one might get an electric shock from an electric water heater, but it is extremely unlikely if precautions are taken, like making sure there is no damaged or defective wiring or poor earthing.
When installing an earth-leakage circuit breaker (ELCB) device with an electric water heater, Professor Dr. Abdul Rauf Bhatti, the chairwoman of the electrical engineering department at Government College University in Faisalabad, informed Geo Fact Check over the phone.
Electric shock and electrical fires brought on by overloads or short circuits are avoided by this device.
“When leakage is detected, an earth-leakage circuit breaker will trip, automatically shutting off,” he clarified, adding that electric geysers are
