For the A knob, the temperature is 130 degrees. This story was originally published on 11/15/13 and was updated on 10/22/19 to provide more thorough and current information. The lowest setting is the factory setting of 120 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. A sudden burst of piping hot (or freezing cold) water is a showering human's worst nightmare. Whether you have a gas or electric water heater, the default temperature set from the factory will be between 120ºF to 140ºF. In the case of the video’s water heater, A, B and C each have an increase of about 10 degrees. 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. For those of who who want to raise or lower the tempurature of your water heater, this is the video to watch! If you're going on vacation lower the temperature on your water heater to the lowest setting to save energy and money while you're gone. Plus, it provides instructions for both electric and gas hot water heaters. 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. 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. Any higher, or lower, could actually be dangerous for you and your family. With proper maintenance and care, your water heater will last for years. In the case of the video’s water heater, A, B and C each have an increase of about 10 degrees. In common, the A B C knob has different temperature settings. The 140 degree setting is more for a commercial application and not for home showers. 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. All Mr. Rooter Plumbing Franchise Locations Are Independently Owned And Operated. Right? Similarly, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends the 140-degree setting for preventing Legionnaires’ disease. C is hotter than B which is hotter than A. 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. Avoid setting your water heater to a temperature higher than 120 °F (49 °C). Writer Bio. Know the Ideal Setting: The best setting for gas water heaters is around 115 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A water heater set to 120 degrees may be just fine for most people. If you’re worried about pathogens in your hot water, and are worried about scalding water, consider a hot water tank booster. Still undecided? 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. Determine the Best Temperature for Your Water Heater. Of course it is possible to change the water heater settings on your hot water heater. Know the Ideal Setting: The best setting for gas water heaters is around 115 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Adjusting water heater temperature. Lowering the temperature on your heater will save you money on your energy bill. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting a tank-based hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It is for information purposes only. Homeowners with a dishwasher that does not pre-heat the water may want to set their water heater to 140 degrees. So, what is the best temperature range for your water heater? When in doubt—or if there are any additional issues—call in a professional. Homes with occupants that have a suppressed immune system or respiratory disease should keep the hot water set to 140 degrees. Turning the screwdriver clockwise will increase the temperature of the water that the heater will produce. 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. Every water heater is preset in America to 120F by the manufactures, but some states like Wisconsin require the water heater temp to be at least 125F. Residential tank water heaters typically store between 20 and 80 gallons of hot water hot throughout, usually at the factory setting of 120°F. If you think the setting is too high, you may need to lower it. 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. It all depends though, on the size of your water heater and the number of machines using your water heater, as well. Turning it counterclockwise will decrease the temperature. This way it leads to emit fewer greenhouse gases, which helps us to save our environment. Cooler temperatures mean warmer clothes, chilly nights and maybe even a fire in the fireplace. But there’s no universal temperature for “hot” water—this is something you have to set yourself. When the temperature finally drops to the point where we can turn on our heaters, remembering the most energy-efficient thermostat setting can be as perplexing as remembering why you walked into the room. Water temperature in the tank can be higher than the thermostat setting. 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 … Mr. Rooter is a registered trademark of Mr. Rooter LLC Copyright © 2021 Mr. Rooter, All rights reserved. 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? 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. Well, the EPA recommends a hot temperature setting of 120-degrees F for both safety and energy-saving purposes. 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. Every water heater is preset in America to 120F by the manufactures, but some states like Wisconsin require the water heater temp to be at least 125F. 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. This can be prevented by setting the water heater to a temperature where the bacteria Legionella cannot thrive. For the B knob, the temperature which has been determined is 140 degrees. On my water heater I get 120°F water with a setting of ‘B.’ When the temperature at the tap is 120°F the temperature in the tank will be about 130°F which is enough to prevent bacterial growth. The standard temperature for many water heaters is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Doing so can present a serious risk of burns, especially for children and the elderly. 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. Your home’s water heater is one of the most important components of your plumbing. Here's how to change the temperature on your tankless water heater. 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. 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. Save the screws in a safe place, since … Resist deposition of mineral Hard water buildup mineral … To reduce the risk of burns from hot tap water, the temperature setting on the water heater can be turned down. This system slowly circulates hot water in the pipes to prevent it from cooling down before it reaches the tap. Most of the time we find that when we go out there that the water heater is set too hot. Your health and safety are our highest priority during this time. If you have a house, you probably have some sort of hot water heater. 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 … Whether you have a gas or electric water heater, the default temperature set from the factory will be between 120ºF to 140ºF. Tank water heaters are typically located in the garage, basement or attic. This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It all depends though, on the size of your water heater and the number of machines using your water heater, as well. Be Careful! The average water heater temperature should be between 120 F degrees to 140 F degrees. Some of the reasons are: • Incoming water temperature is higher than the set point (e.g., solar-heated water). However, if you have a compromised immune system or are prone to respiratory conditions, you should consider setting the temperature … Guidelines from the department explain that most hot water heaters are automatically set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but that’s usually unnecessary. 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. Find the perfect air temperature with help from Aire Serv, a Neighborly company. But if the temperature is set too low, bacteria may begin to … Decrease the temperature to save money on your utilities. 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. Place the screwdriver into the center of the temperature dial. Turn on the hot water tap and allow it to run for a few minutes before taking the temperature. 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). Temperatures maintained below 140°F (60°C) encourage growth of Legionella bacteria and other microorganisms! So what’s the ideal hot water heater temperature? They relate to the relative temperature of the hot water. 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. Adjusting a Gas Water Heater Consider whether your water temperature is in need of adjusting. 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. Most hot water heaters have a A-B … 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. So if B is too hot, set it to A; if B is too cool, crank it up to C. Generally, A should be as hot as you need, but habits vary. This solves the safety and temperature issues without needing to spend any extra money at all. Click here for our precautionary measures. If your water heater is now set to 140°F note that you can save 3% to 5% of the energy consumption for each 10°F you lower the 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. Well, the EPA recommends a hot temperature setting of 120-degrees F for both safety and energy-saving purposes. Oftentimes, water heaters will have additional options to either lower or increase the temperature of the water inside. 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 … 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. So if B is too hot, set it to A; if B is too cool, crank it up to C. Generally, A should be as hot as you need, but habits vary. Perhaps your hot water isn’t hot enough no matter what setting your water heater is on. 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