This heavy duty and portable bucket water heater heats water only. Use for cold weather and travel. Great for winter time jobs.Immerse in water at proper level. Plug into any grounded wall outlet. Check power indicator light in plug to make sure unit is on. It will heat water continuously over 180 degrees F and towards boiling.The silver-colored stainless steel tube contains a thermal overload safety switch, it can automatically cycle on and off as needed to maintain water temperature. It will not overheating and save power.