The United States Department of Energy recommends that you set your water heater to 120°F to save energy, although setting it as high as 140°F is reasonable. Setting it higher than that doesn’t achieve anything useful for general residential consumption. In fact, about the only thing that it does is to raise your energy bill because the heating element goes on more often than if it were set lower.
Why 120°F?
This temperature offers the “best of all worlds.” First, it protects your water heater from harmful bacteria, most of which cannot grow at temperatures of 120°F or higher. Second, it’s still comfortable when it comes to hot showers. Third, it not only saves energy but also keeps your energy bill lower. As they say, “Everyone wins.”
It’s also safer if you have young children who might accidentally turn on a faucet. Children have thinner skin, and 140-degree water can cause a second-degree burn in three seconds. At 120°F, serious burns won’t happen for 10 minutes or more.
Why 140°F?
If you have a need to do a lot of cleaning and/or sanitizing, such as running certain kinds of home businesses, then you’ll need to have 140°F water because it’s much better for these tasks. Remember, though, that setting your water heater to a hotter temperature doesn’t mean that you’ll get hot water out of the faucet more quickly than with cooler water.
Hot Water Circulator
This device is better at getting hot water out of the faucet than simply setting a higher temperature. It connects a loop of pipes to both the hot-water heater and each sink you want to have nearly instant hot water. This will save money, too, because you can use a lower setting on your hot-water heater.
How to Set Your Water Temperature
It’s unfortunate that most water heaters don’t have temperature gauges, but you can test it easily enough. All you need to do is not to use any hot water for at least 30 minutes. That’ll mean that it’s full and heated. Get a drinking glass, and turn on the hot water tap. Let it run until it’s hot. Then, fill the glass. Take a kitchen thermometer, and place it in the glass.
The Right Water Heater Company
Trust our almost four decades’ experience when it comes to your water heater. Not only can we provide you with a new one, but we’re also expert at repairing them. Contact us right away, and ask us about how we can help you with your water heater.