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.
Reasons to Adjust Hot Water Heater Settings
According to the US Department of Energy, the optimal water heater temperature is between 120 and 140 degrees F, striking a balance between safety and energy efficiency.
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).
Each letter is about 10 degrees in difference. If you have a take booster or have your tank running to an air handler for heat you'll want to set the tank to C, otherwise setting to Hot or A is standard.
B - 140° F - Less than 5 seconds. A - 130° F - About 30 seconds. HOT - 120° F - More than 5 minutes.
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.
The next highest setting is usually either labeled as “Hot” or with a triangle, and this setting should correspond to 120 degrees. From there, you will typically see three higher settings marked either as 1, 2, and 3 or A, B, and C that correspond to 130, 140, and 150 degrees, respectively.
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.
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.
Consider putting your water heater in vacation mode if you plan on leaving your house alone for a few days or longer. Whether you're going on a short business trip or a longer vacation, setting the vacation mode has the potential to: Save on energy costs. Save energy resources (fuel)
Heat Pump Water Heaters: The Climate-Conserving Choice
Remarkable Efficiency: Heat pump water heaters are 2-3 times more efficient than standard electric water heaters. Dehumidifying Power: Doubles up as a dehumidifier in warm climates or the summertime.
If someone is at home in the daytime, 72° F (22° C) is a good start, but aim for 68° F (20° C). If everyone is away from home in the daytime or you're asleep at night, we feel 66° F (19° C) to 62° F (17° C) is best.
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.
Right out-of-the-box, most manufacturers set their water heaters to 140 degrees. There are a few reasons for this. First, the manufacturer doesn't know the size of your home, or how far hot water will have to travel to reach your furthest faucet or showerhead. As hot water travels, it loses some of its heat energy.
A lack of hot water can be caused by a variety of issues. In electric water heaters, a power loss or heating element failure can cause water to no longer heat in the tank. In gas water heaters, a faulty gas connection, a bad pilot light, or a bad burner can cause no water to heat.
Most water heaters are set to a standard temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the Department of Energy notes that turning your water heater temperature down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit can help save energy.
Try heating the water for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. Start the water heating about an hour before you need it. For example, if you shower at 08:30, start heating the water at 07:30. If you wash up in the evening at 19:30, then start the water heating at 18:30.
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.
A modern combi-boiler, which provides instant hot water, is generally considered to be more energy efficient than a 'stored' hot water system. It heats the water you need to use rather than heating a large tank of water that might not be used and then left to cool down again.
Here is what temperature each letter stands for: Hot- 120 degrees. A- 130 degrees. B- 140 degrees. C- 150 degrees.
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.
Turning up the heat at the water heater causes hotter water to go to the hot tap. If you desire the same temperature, this makes you use more of the cold tap. Therefore, you're using a smaller percentage of hot water for the same total shower flow. This makes the perceived hot water in your tank last longer.