How Hot Should Your Water Heater Be?
Getting the right water heater temperature is a common homeowner concern. You need enough hot water to use safely without raising your energy usage too much. Ideally, your water heater should be kept at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
This guide walks you through several important considerations, including:
- Why water heater temperature matters
- Factors affecting ideal temperature settings
- Energy savings and costs
- When to adjust your water heater temperature
- How to maintain an optimal water heater temperature
While you can adjust your water heater’s temperature yourself, don’t hesitate to call a professional plumber for help if necessary.
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Why Water Heater Temperature Matters
Your water heater’s temperature matters in terms of your energy usage and safety. Heating water up to higher temperatures uses more energy, but reducing the temperature too much can pose a safety risk. Your chosen temperature also affects your family’s comfort and how well your appliances that use hot water perform.
Bacteria can grow in your water heater at lower temperatures. Legionella can develop between 77 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Conversely, water above 140 degrees can result in scalding in as little as 2 seconds.
Typically, manufacturers recommend setting water heaters between 120 and 140 degrees.
Factors Affecting Ideal Temperature Settings
Choosing how hot your water heater should be set to doesn’t just affect safety and energy efficiency. It also helps avoid mineral buildup.
The ideal temperature settings for your water heater depend on several factors, including:
- Household size: Someone who lives alone can often get away with using a lower water temperature due to usage. Households with several people may need higher temperatures to get more usable hot water.
- Children and seniors in the home: Lower temperatures keep young or older family members safe from scalding. However, higher temperatures can reduce the risk of bacterial infection for those with compromised immune systems.
- Appliance usage: If you regularly use water-using appliances, keeping the water temperature higher can help stretch how much hot water you can use at a time.
- Energy usage and costs: Higher water heater temperatures typically cause higher energy usage.
- Type of water heater: Tankless water heaters don’t store water, so the risk of bacteria growing at lower temperatures is much lower. Tanked water heaters mix hot and cold water as hot water is depleted and may need a higher temperature to compensate.
Energy Savings and Costs
Adjusting your water heater’s temperature can save you money on your energy bill. Dropping your water heater’s temperature from 140 to 120 degrees can reduce your energy costs by 4% to 22% annually, amounting to over $400 per year.
When to Adjust Your Water Heater Temperature
Adjusting your water temperature seasonally can help manage your electricity bill and available hot water. Choose a higher temperature in the winter to offset the flow of cold water coming into the tank as it’s depleted. During the summer, reduce the temperature since the water refilling the tank is warmer.
Many water heaters have low, medium, and high settings without stating the temperature. If you don’t have a thermometer on the water heater, follow these steps to test the temperature manually:
- Measure the hot water temperature from the tap farthest from the water heater and note it down on the thermostat.
- Adjust the temperature setting.
- Wait a few hours for the temperature to adjust, and repeat steps 1 and 2.
- Complete steps 1 through 3 until you reach your desired temperature.
Regularly adjusting the water temperature to suit your needs can extend the lifespan of your water heater and connected appliances. Keeping the temperature around 120 degrees protects your water heater, pipes, and appliances from hot water corrosion.
Maintaining the Optimal Water Heater Temperature
The best water heater temperature keeps your family safe, meets your needs, and considers energy use. This can look different for every household.
Regularly monitoring and adjusting your water heater settings can help boost performance overall while also managing your energy bill. If you can’t get the right temperature, call a professional for help.
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