The EPA recommends 120 degrees because it’s hot enough to keep diseases at bay, it’s not hot enough to cause scalding, it will supply enough hot water for most small families and is relatively energy-efficient. Many who live in large household aim for a higher temperature to accommodate increased demand for hot water. If you live in a large home where it takes a long time for hot water to reach the tap, a hot water circulating system can solve this. Which means, the choice is hot setting. I have to admit I set our old apartment water heater more in the 140°F range because I grew up enjoying really hot baths, and always practice the steady hand art of incrementally increasing the water’s temp with tiny adjustments throughout my shower or bath. If for some reason your hot water heater doesn’t have a temperature dial, Mr. Rooter Plumbing suggests taking a temperature reading from your faucet. But finding that setting on the water heater temperature setting dial isn’t easy, because most dials aren’t labeled with numbers. Technically, a gas heater uses a thermocouple which uses voltage to heat the water so it works slightly differently. As an additional safety measure, turn the gas off completely. Having said that, if you don’t live with anyone who fits into the categories above, 120 degrees Fahrenheit is probably the best temperature setting for your hot water heater. Click here for our precautionary measures. Turn on the hot water tap and allow it to run for a few minutes before taking the temperature. Perhaps your hot water isn’t hot enough no matter what setting your water heater is on. On the other hand, the EPA suggests turning the thermostat down to 120 to reduce power consumption, and a booster heater to reach sanitizing temperatures at select outlets. Water heater manufacturers recommend that installers set thermostats at 120 - 125 F, and most of them ship the water heaters at an even lower temperature setting. If you need help adjusting your water heater or troubleshooting any problems , call your local Mr. Rooter Plumbing at (855) 982-2028, or request an estimate online. In our photo yellow text label identies the aquastat / limit control mounted right on the indirect water heater … The 120-degree setting is standard. If you do set your water heater above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, you need to perform regular temperature checks at your faucet, so try to build them into your schedule. Having said that, if you don’t live with anyone who fits into the categories above, 120 degrees Fahrenheit is probably the best temperature setting for your hot water heater. OSHA has a different hot water temperature recommendation. The 140 degree setting is more for a commercial application and not for home showers. Not only will setting it to 120 degrees meet most of your hot water needs, it also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes. So what’s the ideal hot water heater temperature? Homes with occupants that have a suppressed immune system or respiratory disease should keep the hot water set to 140 degrees. Adjust the temperature to its lowest setting and then run some hot water. Turn on the hot water in the faucet closest to your water heater. If you need help adjusting your hot water heater or troubleshooting any problems, call your local Mr. Rooter Plumbing at (855) 982-2028, or request an estimate online. However, the water is hot enough to cause serious burns. Whether you have a gas or electric water heater, the default temperature set from the factory will be between 120ºF to 140ºF. Elderly homeowners or those with small children may want to keep the temperature at 120 degrees. You could set your water heater to 140 degrees Fahrenheit to keep bacteria out of the picture. Ok, maybe I'm missing something here, but wouldn't you just set the heat of your water heater to a higher level and then use the cold and hot knobs at each sink/tub to set the ideal temperature? The 120-degree setting is standard. First, adjust the thermostat setting to lower the water temperature if the thermostat is set above 130 degrees. Perhaps your hot water isn’t hot enough no matter what setting your water heater is on. The location of the dial will vary depending on the model and type of water heater. First, adjust the thermostat setting to lower the water temperature if the thermostat is set above 130 degrees. Next, check the thermostats. If your water heater is set too high, you will be paying the price in your energy bill each month. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, for each 10 degree reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3 and 5 … Recommended Temperature Settings. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends the 120 degree-mark for both maintenance and savings purposes. CDC recommends your water heater temperature set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A water heater should not be set beyond 125 degrees Fahrenheit. This keeps your water at 140 degrees in the tank but mixes it with cold water to lower the temp to 120 degrees before it reaches the tap. It is estimated that the average water heater temperature is set to 130ºF in the United States.130ºF IS THE BEST TEMPERATURE TO SET YOUR WATER HEATER as it will reduce the risk of scalding while showering but also be hot enough to meet your dishwasher and … Texas is Hot, an educational coalition dedicated to promoting conservation, recommends that you set your thermostat at 68° during the winter to cut down on bills and be the most energy efficient. Here’s what you need to know. The mixing valve takes the hot water from the newly set heater (140°F) and mixes it with cold water until it can be released from the valve at a safe 120°F temperature. Turn off the water heater. If you do set your water heater above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, you need to perform regular temperature checks at your faucet, so try to build them into your schedule. Why is following this temperature standard important? Similarly, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends the 140-degree setting for preventing Legionnaires’ disease. Your water heater accounts for about 18 percent of your home’s energy bill. To do this, turn the hot water all the way up, allow it to run for a few minutes, and then take the water’s temperature. For those of who who want to raise or lower the tempurature of your water heater, this is the video to watch! Additionally, if you have a dishwater that doesn’t pre-heat the water, you’re either going to want to set your hot water heater to 140 degrees. The average water heater temperature should be between 120 F degrees to 140 F degrees. In general, many who live alone aim for a lower temperature in the acceptable range since demand for hot water is less and it saves money. For cooler water heaters, people will need more hot water and less cold water to reach their target. The question then is, what temperature should a hot water heater be set at? When in doubt—or if there are any additional issues—call in a professional. However, before adjusting your hot water heater temperature, you should read our article : Hot Water Temperature: The Danger of Setting Your Water Heater Too Hot because if it’s set too high, it can cause severe burns. This way it leads to emit fewer greenhouse gases, which helps us to save our environment. It it’s set too low, you can have some legionnaires disease developing in the water heater. Experts Weigh In: Best Temperature for Heater In Winter . A higher temperature on your water heater can also increase your electric bill and or gas bill. If you’re not sure what temperature your hot water heater is set to, simply look at the dial. According to. OSHA has a different hot water temperature recommendation. This is our first experience with a tankless system - so far very happy with it. Changing your hot water heater temperature is easy. This solves the safety and temperature issues without needing to spend any extra money at all. It is estimated that the average water heater temperature is set to 130ºF in the United States.130ºF IS THE BEST TEMPERATURE TO SET YOUR WATER HEATER as it will reduce the risk of scalding while showering but also be hot enough to meet your dishwasher and … It is not possible to set a water heater thermostat at a given temperature and get a relatively constant temperature of hot water from a water heater. If it doesn't reach 120 F, you should increase the temperature on the water heater. But if you’re doing a quick temp check, you should be fine on your own. Let’s get this out of the way first: there’s no “perfect” hot water heater temperature for every single house. This system slowly circulates hot water in the pipes to prevent it from cooling down before it reaches the tap. The recommendation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to set the temperature of your residential water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 120 degrees is more than adequate for household chores, and especially for showers and baths. Water heaters are factory set at OSHA recommended levels, around 140 degrees. A water temperature exceeding this poses serious risk of bad burns, particularly to children. Whether you have a gas or electric water heater, the default temperature set from the factory will be between 120ºF to 140ºF. 13" MacBook Pro With Apple M1 Chip (256GB), U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Here, this temperature level is … 7 Steps for How to Set Water Heater Temperature. Although manufacturer's usually set water heaters at 140 degrees F, you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money by adjusting your water heater thermostat. The factory default setting for the temperature is 120 degrees. Setting the hot water temperature lower also means a savings in energy bills for heating the home's water in many cases. It is for information purposes only. However, a lower temperature does mean you will run out of hot water more quickly. Is there any tip for maintaining a water heater? Again, if you want a safe setting, you should choose a setting which has temperature at 120 degrees. A hot water setting of 60C in hotels, hospitals and other large public buildings can control Legionnaires' disease. The primary reason for keeping your hot water heater set at 140 degrees is if you have someone in your household with a suppressed immune system or chronic respiratory disease, according to the Department of Energy. 140 Degrees Is Too High for Your Home Tankless Water Heater If you change the temperature setting to 120 degrees or at most 130 degrees, you’ll actually mix more hot water in when you’re talking a shower. Set the temperature of the water reservoir (hot water heater) to 140°F but deliver the water at 120°F by way of a mixing valve. How to flush sediment from a hot water heater. The temperature control for the indirect water heater will be an aquastat, usually mounted right on the indirect water heater tank (where it can sense the hot water temperature in the hot water tank. Homeowners with a dishwasher that does not pre-heat the water may want to set their water heater to 140 degrees. Well, the EPA recommends a hot temperature setting of 120-degrees F for both safety and energy-saving purposes. Savings come from turning down of the temperature of your water heater subjected to standby loses and consumption. If the water that comes out of your heater is hotter, people will need less of it and more cold water to reach their ideal temperature. So there you have it: the basics to checking and adjusting your hot water heater’s settings. If you want to save money, every 10 degrees you turn down the water tank thermometer, you save 3 to 5 percent on your energy bill. Still undecided? Best Hot Water Mixing Valve for Hot Water Tank Based on the Department of Energy in US, the best temperature setting which you should choose is at 120 degrees. Most experts recommend that hot water temperature should not exceed 125° F (51.66° C). But there’s no universal temperature for “hot” water—this is something you have to set yourself. Find the dial or thermostat for your water heater. Water, Sanitation Key Steps to World Health, Mr. Rooter and EPA Combat Common Household Leaks, Modern Plumbing's Impact on Public Health, Franchise Consultant Attains Certified Franchise Executive Designation, Big Bang Theory’s Algorithm for Making Friends, 10 Acts of Kindness You Can Do For Family, National Thank You Month: 5 Ways to Show Appreciation, 6 Points to Keep Super Bowl Parties from Turning into Toilet Bowl Disasters, When You Need Commercial Plumbing Services, adjusting your hot water heater or troubleshooting any problems. For instance, the water heater settings abc is the most common setting which you can check on your water heater. But…. If you drop the temperature down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, energy experts claim that you could potentially save hundreds of dollars in a lower energy consumption. Run hot water at the tap closest to the water heater for at least three minutes. All Mr. Rooter Plumbing Franchise Locations Are Independently Owned And Operated. Mr. Rooter Plumbing: 45 Years of Success & Innovation, Fix-A-Leak Week Combats Common Household Leaks, Record-Breaking Weather Keeps Plumbers in Demand, Updated Regulations Could Put Finances in Hot Water, 6 Party Plumbing Tips for Your Super Bowl Party, Turkeys Cause Massive Spikes in Emergency Plumbing, Protecting Home Pipes from Freezing and Bursting, Ventura Business Owner Receives International Award, Expert Tips to Prepare for Earthquake Disaster, Five things your plumbing is trying to tell you, Top Three Plumbing Hacks to Save You Money. Fill a glass and check the hot temperature. For … Want more advice from the experts? This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. However, there is less danger of bacterial growth in smaller domestic hot water tanks. Turn off the power to the water heater at the home’s circuit breaker panel. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, for each 10 degree reduction in water temperature, you … The water heater in your home is the second largest use of energy, making up roughly 18 percent of your energy bill each month. If 120-degree water is too hot for you to use, try setting the thermostat at 110 degrees. These factors are not affected by the kind of plumbing you have (PEX, PVC or copper), how the water is heated (gas or electric) or even if you a tankless hot water heater. A sudden burst of piping hot (or freezing cold) water is a showering human's worst nightmare. Avoiding Burns for Vulnerable People A thermostatic mixing valve installed at your hot water heater can protect young children from…. Another argument for the 120-degree setting: if you have children or older people in your house, they are less likely to get scalded by water from the tap at this temperature. The EPA recommends 120 degrees because it’s hot enough to keep diseases at bay, it’s not hot enough to cause scalding, it will supply enough hot water for most small families and is relatively energy-efficient. Don’t set your water heater to anything below 120 degrees, as diseases can develop in the stagnant water inside the water heater, particularly Legionella, which is quite dangerous. Your hot water isn't the only thing that needs to be "just right." Leave it in the water until the thermometer stops increasing. If it still comes out hot then that means that it is faulty and needs to be replaced. This means that those who set their water temperature lower will also tend to run out of hot water faster. If you are ready to adjust the temperature for your water heater, follow these steps. Water heaters are set from the factory to heat water to a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensuring your hot water heater is set to the proper temperature will not only help reduce your monthly energy bill, but you’ll also extend the life of the unit.. A simple test inside your home will help you decide if you should check the unit’s temperature. Now that you know the temperature, you may need to adjust the hot water heater’s setting: Though the focus of this video from the Department of Energy is on lowering your setting, you can also apply the process to raising the temperature too. A water heater should not be set beyond 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Resist deposition of mineral Hard water buildup mineral … If we set temperature of water heater at 120°F, it will burn less gas or fuel or consume less electricity. While most water heater thermostats can be set at 150 degrees, or higher, manufacturers post warnings that settings over 125 degrees can scald the skin. Consequently, the minimum water heater outlet temperature in residential systems should be set at 54C to produce a tap temperature of at least 49C. Guidelines from the department explain that most hot water heaters are automatically set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but that’s usually unnecessary. Next, check the thermostats. Is Lavish Toilet Paper Harming Your Plumbing? The arguments for 120°F temperature setting: If we set the water heater temperature at 120°F, we may get the following advantages as advice by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering – Helps to cut down bills. If 120-degree water is too hot for you to use, try setting the thermostat at 110 degrees. Like most things, it depends on your household’s needs, including whether any children or elderly people are living with you, and whether anyone has a compromised immune system. If you have never adjusted your hot water heater temperature, it’s most likely set on the default setting for most manufacturers of hot water heaters, which is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature on your water heater should be set so that it is just hot enough to satisfy your needs. With proper maintenance and care, your water heater will last for years. Other temperature settings, hot and very hot, each stands for 120 degrees and 160 degrees. Your health and safety are our highest priority during this time. Plus, it provides instructions for both electric and gas hot water heaters. However, the best setting for you could vary based on a few factors. You’ll find the valve on the gas line entering the water heater However, the best setting for you could vary based on a few factors. On the flip side, if your water heater is set too low your water may not get hot enough (short showers), or worse, be at risk of growing bacteria. Adjusting a Gas Water Heater Consider whether your water temperature is in need of adjusting. 160 degrees fahrenheit temperature setting would be considered a HOT setting. If the water is above 120 degrees, adjust the dial, wait about three hours and check again. Thankfully, there’s a setup that addresses both of these concerns. Your home’s water heater is one of the most important components of your plumbing. Set it at 120 degrees and increase the temperature in small increments until you find the perfect shower temperature. Set too high, or at 140ºF, your water heater can waste anywhere from $36 to $61 annually in standby heat losses and more than $400 in demand losses. Turn the thermostat knob to off. CDC recommends your water heater temperature set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Mr. Rooter is a registered trademark of Mr. Rooter LLC Copyright © 2021 Mr. Rooter, All rights reserved. Some people like to set their water heater on the high side, between 140-150 degrees, and make adjustments at the tap, while others believe that setting the thermostat above 120 can be dangerous, raising the potential for scalding. Repeat until you get 120-degree F water. Writer Bio If you have a house, you probably have some sort of hot water heater. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting a tank-based hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Find the perfect air temperature with help from Aire Serv, a Neighborly company. Collect some of the water in a cup and measure the water temperature using your thermometer. The Best Temperature Range for Your Water Heater The best temperature setting for your water heater is 120 degrees based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations, not only to limit power consumption to prevent the development of certain diseases, like Legionnaires’ disease. This story was originally published on 11/15/13 and was updated on 10/22/19 to provide more thorough and current information. Right? Your water heater may also have a setting that says “pilot.” Turn off the gas to the water heater. Setting the water to a higher temperature increases the risk of scalding. Although manufacturer’s usually set water heaters at 140 degrees F, you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money by adjusting your water heater thermostat. The standard temperature for many water heaters is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. To reduce the risk of burns from hot tap water, the temperature setting on the water heater can be turned down. We recently moved into our new house and have a Navien NPE tankless water heater. However, many home owners don't know what the standard temperatures are and set the thermostat on their water heater too high! So, what is the best temperature range for your water heater? The World Health Organization suggests setting your water heater at 140 degrees Fahrenheit for optimum safety. You can find your current temperature setting by looking at the dial on the water heater (if equipped) or taking a temperature reading from the faucet. Their biggest argument, though—being the Department of Energy and all—is that setting your hot water heater to 120 degrees instead of 140 degrees can save you energy, and therefore money: Savings resulting from turning down your water heater temperature are based on two components: reduced standby losses (heat lost from water heater into surrounding basement area); and consumption (from water demand or use in your home). If you’re worried about pathogens in your hot water, and are worried about scalding water, consider a hot water tank booster. Bacteria are less likely to survive at that temperature, and it is not hot enough to cause scalding. 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