The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends setting the water heater at no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) to prevent scalding. Not to mention, a water heater that is set too high can unnecessarily increase your electricity bill.
What Temperature Should a Water Heater Be Set At? 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.
The risk of burns is greatest when water temperature is above 120 degrees. 150-degree water scalds in less than a second. 140-degree water scalds in just one second. It takes four minutes for 120-degree water to scald.
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 of the search results said anywhere between 120°F and 140°F is normal, and advised against going hotter than 140.
At 150 degrees Celsius, water exists as a gas (steam) because this temperature is above its boiling point.
Although some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140ºF, most households usually only require them to be set at 120ºF, which also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes. Water heated at 140ºF also poses a safety hazard—scalding.
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 is the recommended max temperature for water heaters, according to both the American Society of Sanitary Engineering and the US Department of Energy. Firstly, setting the max temperature to 120 degrees prevents the water from scalding your skin.
Children and older people, who typically have thinner skin, suffer more severe burns in a shorter time and at lower temperatures than adults. A child can suffer a third-degree burn in 124°F water in less than three minutes. Children and adults can be burned this badly in two seconds or sooner in 149°F water.
While your hot water heater can operate safely up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, that temperature is too high to be safe. It will also drive up your energy costs.
Yes, it's very bad to turn your water heater all the way up. To do so will reduce its life, increase your electricity bill and could possibly cause scalding—particularly if you have young children or an elderly relative living in your home.
The boiling point of water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius at sea level. That means in most places this is the temperatures of boiled water. However, as you rise above sea level water will boil at a lower temperature.
The primary way most people notice their water heaters overheating is because the water becomes unbearably hot, scaldingly so. If your water heater is set on too high a temperature, burns, and severe injuries may occur.
Understanding these settings can help when figuring out how to adjust the temp on water heater units. A typically represents around 130°F. B usually corresponds to 140°F. C indicates a temperature of about 150°F or higher.
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.
Although some people like their water extremely hot or would rather blend hot and cold water to achieve their desired water temperature, there is such a thing as water that is too hot. Experts say any temperature above 140 degrees is too hot for a water heater in a residence.
Mineral Build-Up
Mineral build-up on the heating element of a hot water tank can cause a water heater to overheat. If your water heater's element overheats, it's logical that your water will come out of the faucet way too hot.
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.
To help prevent bacteria growth, the ASSE recommends keeping the water in your water heater tank at about 135 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
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.
The only exception is if you have small children at home. In this case, you should always leave your unit set to 120 degrees to prevent your kids from accidentally being scalded. Even though your water heater can go as high as 160 degrees, we never recommend going above 140.
What's the Optimal Hot Water Heater Temperature? Most hot water heaters are set at the factory setting of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but this isn't necessarily the best temperature for it. The United States Department of Energy recommends that most people set the temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most water heaters can reach 160 degrees, but experts recommend never setting your unit higher than 140 degrees. If the water is any hotter than this, it can easily scald you.
"Hot water is typically described as approximately 110 to 140 degrees," says Channa Ovits, M.D., FAAD, a Westchester, New York-based board-certified dermatologist at Westmed Medical Group, a Summit Health Company. But in terms of a shower, you should never tiptoe over 120 degrees, due to the chance of a burn injury.