What Is the Ideal Water Heater Setting?

You should look at how high or low you adjust your water heater. You can control it hotter or cooler as needed.

Whatever the case is, you have to look at how you’re going to set your water heater. The effort should be about ensuring you have the best hot water experience in your home. You will have to look at how well your heater works. You must also see how you can adjust the heat setting on your heater, as you’ll have to ensure the design is easy to manage and use in your home.

The General Default

The default setting on your water heater will be at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Celsius. Most manufacturers use this temperature. But the problem with that high of a configuration is that it requires extra power. You’ll have to wait a little longer for the heater to get the water warm enough. What’s even more concerning is that the water can be scalding, in some cases.

However, 140 degrees may be appropriate if you have a weakened immune system, or you regularly experience chronic illnesses. Your water heater will not be as likely to develop bacteria if the water is that warm. The point is thanks to the heater producing enough heat to where the bacteria that could grow will be killed off.

Keep It Lower

Unless you have immune system issues, the best idea for your water heater is to keep the setting down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or 49 degrees Celsius. One hundred twenty degrees is ideal for how it provides enough warmth in your home, but not to where it could become dangerous on your skin. You won’t have to wait as long to get the water heater up and running.

What’s more, is that you won’t spend as much money on your water heating bills if you keep the temperature down to 120 degrees. You could save up to five percent on your energy bills if you reduce the setting down to 120 degrees.

A Helpful Note

The company that makes your water heater might set your heater to 140 degrees by default to make you more reliant on the unit. If you run it too hard it may break. You’ll have to adjust your heater yourself to keep the temperature down.

Ask us at Lasiter and Lasiter Plumbing about our hot water solutions. We can help you with finding and installing a new water heater. You can ask us about how you can adjust your heater after we finish installing the model.