Does your home’s water feel too cold? Your water heater is equipped with a dial that lets you adjust the temperature setting. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we can discuss the reasons why you might want to set your temperature lower or higher. The ideal setting depends on the members of your household, your personal preferences, and your safety.
Factors To Consider When Setting Your Water Temperature
When setting your water heater’s temperature, there are a few important factors you should keep in mind.
Children and the Elderly
If the water is too hot, children and the elderly may not be able to move quickly enough to avoid being burned. Additionally, a young child or a loved one with dementia may turn the bath’s temperature to the highest setting without realizing the danger involved. Both of these age groups are more likely to be burned or scalded because of their thinner skin, so they need a water heater that has a lower temperature setting.
Personal Preference
If you still use the factory settings, the water temperature should only feel warm to the touch. For a hot, steamy shower, you’ll need to increase your water heater’s temperature. However, some people dislike hot showers, so you can always adjust your temperature until you reach a setting that feels comfortable to you.
Energy Costs
Older homes are generally equipped with water heaters that use a tank. With this type of water heater, the water is heated and maintained at a set temperature throughout the day and night. If you change the setting to a higher option, you’ll have to spend more money on your energy costs to keep a continuous supply of hot water.
Tankless water heaters will also cost more to run at a higher energy setting. Because the water is only heated when it is actually used, the cost difference won’t be nearly as significant as it is for traditional water heaters.
Safety Concerns
Heated water can scald you if it is too hot. However, the water must be hot enough to kill dangerous bacteria. Legionella can survive in water temperatures that are lower than 122 F, so you need to set your water heater to at least this temperature or higher.
What Is the Best Temperature Setting for My Water Heater?
Typically, we recommend setting your water heater between 122 F and 140 F. Anything higher than 140 F can potentially scald your skin. Meanwhile, any temperature lower than 122 F could end up encouraging bacteria growth.
What Is Legionnaires’ Disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria. This bacteria typically spreads through water systems and water-related devices. The most common way for someone to become ill is by breathing in a contaminated mist of water.
This bacteria can be found in the following locations:
- Hot tubs
- Sink faucets
- Cooling towers
- Water heaters
- Showers
- Decorative fountains
Once someone is infected with the bacteria, they can develop pneumonia. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. While many people will recover completely, this disease can be fatal among the elderly and immunocompromised.
How Do I Change the Setting on My Water Heater?
Before you change the temperature setting on your water heater, you should start by confirming that the temperature setting matches the actual temperature. Many water heaters don’t contain a temperature gauge, which makes it impossible to see what the temperature actually is. Additionally, some water heaters develop issues regulating temperature as they age.
To test your water heater, avoid using any hot water for at least an hour. This allows your water tank time to heat up completely. Then, turn on your tap for two minutes so that the hot water has a chance to reach the faucet. Fill up a cup with water from the faucet. Afterward, you can use a kitchen thermometer to test the water’s temperature.
Once you know what the temperature is, you can change the setting on your water heater. Then, repeat this process to confirm that the temperature is still within a safe range. If your water heater’s thermostat and your thermometer say different temperatures, you should have a plumber from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing inspect your water heater for faulty components.
Most water heaters have a simple knob that can be turned to set the temperature. The low setting is often too low to inhibit bacterial growth, so you will want to choose a higher setting. There is also generally a vacation mode that you can use when you’re away, so you don’t have to spend as much money on heating your home’s water supply.
Enjoy a More Comfortable Water Temperature
If your thermostat doesn’t seem to be working properly, we can help. One of our plumbers can quickly inspect your water heater to make sure it is in working order. Then, we can replace faulty components, flush the tank, and perform routine maintenance activities. To learn more about how Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can help, reach out to one of our team members today.