Because the water heater is hidden away in a closet or basement, many homeowners don’t even think about it until the water runs cold or the energy bill increases. However, one small setting can dramatically impact its operation, which is tweaking the temperature. Choosing the right temperature not only keeps your showers comfortable, but this also helps you save energy, reduce costs, and keep your family safe.
The Default Temperature Is Not Always Best
The default temperature setting for many water heaters is 140°F. Sure, this can give you extremely hot water; however, this particular setting is not necessary. This setting can be too hot in many circumstances, and it can cause young children or elderly individuals to develop serious burns. All it takes is a few seconds for serious scalding to occur. Keeping your water heater at this setting also consumes a whole lot more energy.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that homeowners set the water heater temperature to 120°F. This is hot enough for most activities of daily life, such as bathing, cooking, and cleaning.
How Temperature Affects Energy Use
Tank water heaters continuously maintain their temperature, even when no hot water is needed. When temperatures are high, the water heaters must work harder, thus they will use more energy. Lowering the water temperature to 120°F will enable you to cut down on the cost of energy, as there will not be a significant amount of standby heat loss. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that typical households can save an average of $60.
How to Adjust Your Water Heater
Most water heaters have either a digital display or a dial for setting the temperature. Before making any adjustments, you should chat with a plumber to make sure you are doing things correctly. Once you set the temperature, run the tap and see if the water is where you want it. If you run into any problems, a plumber can assist you.
Water heater temperature settings may not seem like anything major; however, they play a significant role in preserving your family’s comfort, safety, and finances. In addition to making temperature adjustments, it’s critical that you schedule annual maintenance, as this enables a plumber to find and fix problems that may be present so that they don’t balloon into major disasters.
If you need water heater repair or maintenance services in Albuquerque, NM, contact the team at ACE ABQ, and we’ll help you get everything squared away.