Gas or electric water heaters Start by turning off power to the water heater at the circuit breaker. Find the access panel for the thermostat(s) and use a screwdriver to remove the panel. Peel back the insulation. Use a flathead screwdriver to adjust the thermostat up or down.
Set the temperature too low, and you could turn your water heater into a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria. Set it too high, and you could be setting yourself up for a scalding accident. How Low Can You Go? The short answer: 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
You could use a thermostatic mixing valve. It has a set temperature and will mix hot and cold water to lower the temp. In some areas, water heaters get set to 140 normally and the thermostatic value are used to temper the water to a non-scaling level.
Set too high, or at 140ºF, your water heater can waste anywhere from $36 to $61 annually in standby heat losses. Additional savings will be realized by the lower temperature for consumption (from water demand or use in your home, such as clothes washing, showers, and dishwashing). These may amount to more than $400.
The maximum Department of Energy recommended water heater temperature setting you should never exceed is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest recommended setting should never be below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
We recommend always keeping the heater set between 110 and 120 degrees. In the summer, try setting your water heater temperature at the low end of this scale, placing it close to or at 110 degrees.
Don't set your water heater to anything below 120 degrees F, as diseases can develop in the stagnant water inside the water heater, particularly Legionella, which is quite dangerous.
So, what is the best temperature range for your water heater? The EPA recommends 120 degrees because it's hot enough to keep diseases at bay but not hot enough to cause scalding. This setting will also supply enough hot water for most small families and is relatively energy efficient.
Faulty fixtures or leaking connections and pipes can go unnoticed at the water heater because it is not an appliance you see every day. The leaks can become significant and result in an increase in the water usage bill and your energy usage bill.
Check the thermostat and adjust lower if necessary. Sometimes the dial is accidentally tweaked too high, so this troubleshooting solution to fix your water heater is the first step in diagnosing a water heater overheating problem.
The best temperature setting for a hot water heater is between 120 and 140 degrees. Below 120 degrees, bacteria can develop in the stagnant water sitting in the tank. Above 140 degrees, the water is so hot that you and your family members can be at risk for scalding in as little as two seconds.
120 degrees Fahrenheit is the safety recommendation against scalding, but 140° is the common default setting. Most experts agree that anything below 120 degrees creates a risk for bacteria to develop inside your water heater from stagnant water, such as legionella that causes Legionnaire's disease.
Most water heaters are designed to operate safely at temperatures between 120 and 160 degrees. Many tank-style units also have a low-temperature setting where the unit will only heat up the water to around 90 to 100 degrees.
Though the DOE says you can save money on hot water by lowering the maximum temperature of your water heater from 140° F to 120° F, we don't necessarily recommend it. That's because the lower temperature might invite opportunistic bacteria—including Legionella, associated with Legionnaires' disease—to proliferate.
According to most dermatologists, the ideal shower temperature is anywhere between 98°F (37°C) and 104°F (40°C)—and no more than 105 °F (41°C). Rinsing under lukewarm water allows you to stay comfortable and maintain your body temperature while reaping all the benefits of both hot and cold showers.
Manufacturers often recommend a hot water heater temperature between 120 to 140°F, and there's a reason for this. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends a recommended hot water temperature of at least 122 degrees to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
According to experts in plumbing and home safety, a recommended temperature range of 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit is generally considered safe for most households. This ensures that hot water remains comfortable while minimizing the risk of accidental burns.
Most homeowners should flush their water heaters every 6 months or so, but if you have extremely hard water, you may want to do it more often. Flushing your hot water heater could be necessary as often as every few months depending on the mineral content of your local water supply.
Ideal hot water temperature in winter
During the winter months, an optimal temperature for domestic hot water is around 55-60 °C.
For instance, a typical shower uses about 10 gallons of hot water. So, if you have a 40-gallon hot water tank, you should be able to get four average-length showers out of your hot water tank. This also depends on how much hot water you use for other things.
To help prevent bacteria growth, the ASSE recommends keeping the water in your water heater tank at about 135 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit.