What Temperature Should I Set for My Water Heater?

What Temperature Should I Set for My Water Heater?

Taking a cold shower before going to work is just the worst thing ever. To avoid this situation, you need to set the water heater temperature well in advance. But what could be the right temperature to set? What is favorable in terms of your health and safety as well as your electricity bill? 

It would help if you went through the proper temperature range to know this.

Correct Temperature Range

Depending on the weather, the temperature range changes from season to season. For example, if it’s winter and your water heater is set at a lower temperature, it can sometimes lead to bacterial growth leading up to Legionnaires disease. Therefore, recommended setting for your water heater is at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Celsius to stop the growth of such microorganisms. 

The right kind of temperature for you might not be the same for your children or pets. Toddlers can even suffer fatal burns at 150 degrees Fahrenheit or 66 degrees Celsius. Setting your water heater at 110 degrees Fahrenheit is advised by experts and can be shuffled 5 to 10 degrees higher or lower depending on the necessity.

How To Set A Temperature On A Water Heater?

You will find a dial just at the bottom of your system to adjust the temperature. However, there are a few other tank models with a different procedure;

  • Turn off your water heater from the circuit breaker.
  • Remove the panel for the thermostat.
  • Remove insulation.
  • Adjust the temperature from the thermostat. Sometimes there are two thermostats present, and you must adjust both accordingly.
  • Replace insulation and put the access panel back in
  • Switch the power ON to the water heater
  • Switch on the pilot light if you have a gas water heater

The Perfect Temperature

Although the highest set temperature is 140 degrees Fahrenheit as per the US Department of Energy and American Society of sanitary engineering, 120 degrees Fahrenheit happens to be the best for various reasons:

  • Health And Safety Issues

Sometimes it is very unhealthy to take a regular hot water bath with the temperature set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Your skin might be sensitive at times, exceptionally when you have returned from a trip. Scrubbing and using various products at such a high temperature might harm your skin. Children and the elderly are more likely to get skin burns, even fatal at times. 

  • Pocket Friendly

Surprisingly, you can save up a lot on electricity or fuel bills by sitting with the temperature a few degrees lower. When your thermostat is adjusted to a higher temperature, your unit takes up more energy to produce the amount of heat that will eventually warm your water. 

If the temperature is set lower, the energy used is comparatively lesser, amounting to lower bills. For example, you can save up as much as $100 per year by setting your water heater’s temperature at 120 degrees instead of 140 degrees.

  • Environment-friendly

Sometimes house owners like to increase the temperature of water heaters so that the water warms up quickly, then switch it off, or lower the temperature to maintain that temperature. This is a great idea that saves electricity, having a positive impact on the environment. Whether it is a gas heater or an electric heater, less energy usage guarantees an environment-friendly nature. 

  • Lesser Mineral Deposits

Sometimes when the water is too warm, the minerals already present tend to build up at the bottom of the tank. This mineral deposition might need regular cleaning and maintenance. The need for such maintenance arises when there is a lot of mineral deposit sediment. 

Avoid the issue entirely by not allowing boiling water to sit in the tank for a long time. Instead, always use up most hot water and then set the temperature at a lower degree or completely put off your water heater when not in use.

When To Contact An Expert?

Sometimes the water might seem to be too hot despite you setting a lower temperature on the thermostat. When you start observing a sudden fluctuation, try to look at your manual for accidental setting changes that you might have made. If this does not work out, get in touch with your nearest heating contractor for water heater repair in Garden Grove, CA.

Whether it is a repair, installation, or replacement, water heater repair in Garden Grove, CA has now created easy to contact. You can call us at 714-894-6500; or schedule a service online on Stephan’s Home Comfort Services website.