Your home’s water heater can constitute a sizable portion of your home’s energy bill. The temperature setting of your water heater is a significant factor in determining how it contributes to the monthly energy bill. The higher the temperature setting, the more energy is used and the higher our energy bill will likely be. Still, setting your hot water heater at a temperature that is too low will likely result in lukewarm showers or worse, bacterial growth. The question then is, what temperature should a hot water heater be set at?
The Best Temperature Range for Your Water Heater
The best temperature setting for your water heater is 120 degrees based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations, not only to limit power consumption to prevent the development of certain diseases, like Legionnaires’ disease. However, while energy efficiency and disease prevention are things to think about when setting the temperature of your water heater, other factors could require a higher temperature setting. For example, if you have a dishwasher that doesn’t preheat the water, a temperature setting of 140 degrees may be more ideal.
A temperature setting at 120 degrees is also ideal for kids. The Mayo Clinic recommends setting your hot water heater to below 120 F (48.9 C), and to aim for bath water around 100 F (38 C).
Energy.gov recommendation for individuals with a suppressed immune system or chronic respiratory disease is to maintain their hot water tank at 140ºF but to minimize the risk of scalding, install mixing valves for temperature regulation, or similar devices on taps used for washing or bathing.
In a general sense, households with lower demand for hot water should set temperatures at a lower degree that is acceptable to them. This will help homeowners to save money. On the other hand, large households typically require higher temperatures to meet the demand for hot water in a larger space. It is possible to save between 3% and 5% on your energy bill for every 10% you reduce your water tank thermometer.
Still Having Doubts?
If you are uncertain about the proper temperature to set your hot water heater, begin at 120 degrees and to find that ideal temperature, increase raise the temperature in small increments. If energy savings, lower power bills and maintenance are important to you, set your temperature to 120 degrees, since that temperature will meet most household hot water needs and limit mineral accumulation and corrosion of the pipes and water tank.
If you are looking for a hot water heating solution, Elite Plumbing and Heating, Inc. can ensure that your hot water stays hot. With an excellent team of professionals, Elite Plumbing and Heating can make the temperature adjustment that is required, and fix troubleshoot issues. Trust us to have your hot water at the perfect temperature for your needs. Contact us today!
