What Is the Best Temperature Setting for a Water Heater?

Showering or bathing in hot water can soothe your muscles, lower blood pressure and even help you get to sleep faster. Soaking in hot water can also open your pores, which will help wash away toxins and impurities. Moreover, finding the best temperature setting for your water heater can elevate your bathing experience and help improve your equipment’s efficiency.

Here one of the area’s best heating and air conditioning maintenance companies shares some essential factors to consider that will help you determine the ideal temperature setting for your water heater.

Essential Factors to Consider

Demand or frequency of use. Among the first things to consider is how many people there are in your household. If your family frequently showers simultaneously, consider setting the temperature of your water heater at 140 degrees. You can get hot and cold water knobs to ensure everyone is able to shower at their preferred temperature.

If your water heater generates hotter water, you won’t need it as much as cold water to achieve the desired temperature. On the other hand, you’ll need more hot water and less cold water if you have a cooler water heater. This means that setting your water temperature lower will cause the hot water to run out faster. You’ll need to set the temperature higher to ensure everyone gets enough hot water, especially if you have a large house with many family members.

Energy savings. The standard temperature setting for water heaters is 140 degrees, but the Department of Energy says you can set it at 120 degrees to enjoy energy savings. Think twice before going below this number to further reduce your utility bills, however, as setting your water heater below 120 degrees significantly increases the risk of bacterial growth.

Your family’s health. It’s usually safe to set your water heater at 120 degrees for energy savings. However, there will always be the risk of bacterial growth that can endanger your family’s health. HVAC repair experts agree that if you have family members with compromised immune systems, it’s best to set your water heater at 140 degrees or higher. They might need hotter water to kill bacteria and achieve more concentrated steam in the air while showering or bathing.

Your younger or aging family members. Do you have children or aging loved ones at home? If so, the 120-degree setting may be better since it reduces the chances of discomfort and the risk of being injured by water that’s too hot. In addition, older adults and young children are more susceptible to burns and injuries from sudden exposure to hot water.

Keep in mind that a baby can get third-degree burns after just two seconds of exposure to water at 150 degrees and five seconds at 140 degrees. If you have young children at home, it’s safest to set your water heater to 130 degrees or below.

The efficiency of your dishwasher. How well does your dishwasher perform? Some older models don’t come with a booster heater and may not clean your dishes properly if you set your water heater lower than 140 degrees.

Ways to Improve Your Water Heater’s Performance

Invest in routine maintenance. With regular maintenance, your water heater will remain efficient and can even last beyond its expected service lifespan. Experts recommend scheduling tune-ups at least once a year. Routine inspections and maintenance will enable your technician to detect minor issues that can later affect the performance of the equipment. If repairs are necessary, make sure to have them completed immediately to avoid premature unit failure. If you’re looking for dependable heating and air conditioning maintenance companies, turn to Cafco Services.

Drain sediment from your water heater. Over time, sediment can settle at the bottom of your water heater tank. This accumulation will prevent the burners from heating the water inside the tank. As a result, your water heater will have to work harder, and will thus use up more energy. Draining a few gallons of water from your heater several times a year will help prevent this issue and keep your energy bills from increasing.

Another thing you can do to stop this problem before it starts is to go tankless. You won’t need to worry about sediment buildup with a tankless water heater. Some models come with an integrated scrubber that cleans debris from the equipment. Investing in a tankless water heater will also help you save on HVAC repair and maintenance costs.

Set the temperature a little lower. While 140 degrees is the most common setting for water heaters, the 120-degree setting may work just fine for your home. You can save from 3%-5% in energy costs for every 10 degrees that you reduce your water heater’s temperature. This means that changing its temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees can reduce energy consumption by up to 10%.

Invest in a more efficient water heater. The time will come when you need to replace your existing water heater. When this moment arrives, you want to invest in equipment that’s more efficient. Even with regular maintenance, a unit with a low efficiency rating won’t meet your performance expectations. As one of the area’s leading HVAC installation companies, you can count on Cafco Services for highly-efficient water heaters.

Get low-flow faucet attachments. Low-flow faucet attachments will keep you from using excess water at your sink. Did you know that a conventional faucet can produce around two and a half gallons per minute? With a low-flow faucet, this number will reduce to one-half to one gallon per minute. This lower demand on your equipment can translate to better equipment efficiency.

Make sure your water heater is the right size for your home. Regardless of what type of water heater you have, it must be appropriately sized for your home. Water will lose heat if it has to travel far from the heat source. If you have a large home, consider tankless water heaters that you can install in different parts of your living space. This will allow you to be more comfortable while taking a bath without straining your water heater.

For quality heating and cooling solutions, choose Cafco Services. We’re one of the most trusted HVAC installation companies in the area. Call us at (513) 242-3400 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.