That should be plenty hot enough for most uses in your home. Now, some water heater temperature controls come with settings that read “A-B-C” as opposed to numbers. Generally, A means 120 degrees, B means 130 degrees, and C means 140 degrees. Refer to your water heater's manual to confirm these settings.
These are usually labeled A, B, C or 1, 2, 3, and the last setting is always “Very Hot.” The A or 1 setting should be around 130 degrees, B or 2 is 140 degrees, C or 3 is 150 degrees and “Very Hot” is always 160 degrees. Again, we never recommend setting the unit above the B or 2 setting to prevent scalding.
C - 150° F - About 1-1/2 seconds. B - 140° F - Less than 5 seconds. A - 130° F - About 30 seconds. HOT - 120° F - More than 5 minutes.
In the US, the maximum legal temperature for a water heater in a residential setting is 120 degrees. Most folks want to run at 125-130 degrees but be careful. The Federal law that stipulates the max temperature is because of folks, especially kids, getting burned by the water.
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.
That should be plenty hot enough for most uses in your home. Now, some water heater temperature controls come with settings that read “A-B-C” as opposed to numbers. Generally, A means 120 degrees, B means 130 degrees, and C means 140 degrees. Refer to your water heater's manual to confirm these settings.
The EPA recommendation is to always leave your water heater set to 120 degrees. This is both so that the unit loses less energy and also to prevent possible scalding. OSHA, on the other hand, recommends setting your water heater to 140 degrees in order to aid with cleaning and sanitation.
Water Heater Temperature Recommendations
120 degrees Fahrenheit is the safety recommendation against scalding, but 140° is the common default setting.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), water temperatures ranging from 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit(°F) can eliminate most of the harmful bacteria. However, be warned that these high temperatures can also increase the risk of scalding.
To avoid scalding, it's essential to keep the water heater temperature at a safe level, typically around 120°F (49°C). If your household members are particularly vulnerable to scalding, such as children, consider lowering the temperature even further to about 100°F (38°C).
The flow rate through the demand water heater should be at least 3.25 gallons (12.3 liters) per minute. To reduce flow rates, install low-flow water fixtures. To determine temperature rise, subtract the incoming water temperature from the desired output temperature.
The best setting for gas water heaters is around 115 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Oftentimes, water heaters will have additional options to either lower or increase the temperature of the water inside.
Here are some common heat up times for different water heaters, assuming the appliances are new and properly sized for the home: Electric storage tank water heater: 60–80 minutes. Propane storage tank water heater: 30–40 minutes. Propane tankless water heater: 0 minutes.
Raising the temperature setting on your water heater ultimately makes your hot water supply last longer. It will ensure everyone gets a hot shower, with plenty leftover to run your dishwasher and washing machine.
The perfect temperature to set a water heater
And the default setting of 140 F (60 C) may be going away. Recent installation manuals for major residential water heater manufacturers actually call for a starting temperature of 120 F (49 C).
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.
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.
There were two temperatures discussed for each fixture during the design standard meetings. One was the “use temperature” and the other was “the maximum temperature” to prevent scalding. It's generally agreed that 120 degrees Fahrenheit is the maximum safe hot water temperature that should be delivered from a fixture.
Water temperature of the bathtub or faucet should never exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water is too hot you can turn down the water heater setting; employ a plumber to adjust the setting, or call your landlord.
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.
The recommended setting for this control is 60°C/140°F. (Storing hot water at temperatures of less than 55°C is not advisable due to potential for Legionnaires disease). If the water coming out of your taps is too hot then check this control as it could be set too high.
Hot water needs to be stored above 60°C in hot water systems to prevent bacteria growth (such as Legionella), but a tempering valve ensures that the water comes out of the tap at a lower temperature.
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.
The Hot Water Heater Temperature Range
Your hot water heater should be set at 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Any lower, and you'll put yourself at risk of contaminating your water supply with bacteria. At temperatures above 140 degrees, your home's hot water has the potential to cause severe burns.