Hot Water on Shabbat

Asked by SS · May 22, 2003 · Shabbat

Question

I read your suggestion about hot water on Shabbat -- that is, to lower the temperature on the hot water heater until the water is below yad soledet bo. But I think there might be another problem. From what I have been told, when the cold water enters the hot water heater, the flame is automaitically raised in order to heat it. Now even though you are not heating it to yad soledet bo, and thus violating the prohibition on bishul, isn't the fact that the fire is being raised also a problem, and if not why not?

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

It is not automatically raised, but rather once it reaches a specific tempature it goes on. This is the same as your refrigerator. AA