Do You Save Any Money When Adjusting Water Heater Temps?

Your hot water heater is one of the most significant energy consuming devices in your home, so if you’re searching for a location to cut down on energy expenses, it’s a good place to start. Before you adjust down your water heater’s thermostat a couple of degrees, there are a few things you may want to consider.

If you the temperature level too low, and you might risk turning your hot water heater into a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. And if you set it too high, you could be setting yourself up for a scalding accident (especially with kids).

Does Adjusting Water Heater Temperature Safe Money?

Conserving energy and cash is necessary, however it’s not as crucial as saving yourself and your household from harmful illnesses. That said, it’s possible to cut costs without using your hot water heater’s thermostat to do it:

• Change your hot water heater. The average hot water heater lasts 8 to 12 years, which’s if it’s properly preserved. Water heaters that are older or past due for upkeep could be far less efficient than they were on day one. When shopping for a replacement, try to find one that meets the voluntary efficiency requirements of the ENERGY STAR program.
• Try to conserve hot water. Take much shorter showers and favor the dishwashing machine over hand-washing, which usually uses more water.
• Insulate your hot water heating unit and pipelines. There are easy-to-install pieces of insulation that are pre-cut for these functions, so this may be an afternoon DIY project.

How Low Is Too Low?

The short answer: 119 degrees Fahrenheit and below. This is the predetermined thermostat temperature in most brand-new hot water heater, and it’s the suggested setting of the U.S. Department of Energy.

At the 120F temp and above, this is where damaging pathogens like the kind that trigger Legionnaires’ disease are avoided from multiplying and may be eliminated. As the temperature gets greater, pathogens die off quicker. For that reason, other firms like the Occupational Security and Health Administration (OSHA) advise a water heater temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

If everyone in your home has a strong body immune system, 120 degrees could be considered safe, but it’s also the minimum. It’s safer to select a temperature closer to 140 degrees, particularly if anybody in the house has actually a jeopardized immune system. You may likewise require to set the temperature greater if you have a dishwashing machine that doesn’t create its own heat (this is rare with modern day dishwashers).

How High is Too High?

At 140F and above, water can cause third-degree burns in 5 seconds. And because it takes a number of seconds for warm water to travel through your pipelines and reach your faucet or showerhead, you’ll may not know when the scalding water will suddenly come out.

Children can be more susceptible to water burns due to the fact that their skin is thinner than that of grownups, and the senior may also be at increased risk due to reduced sensitivity, movement and response time.

It’s a balance between pathogen reduction and scalding safety. This balance can also be accomplished by anti-scald valves. By installing these at each point of contact with hot water, you can keep your hot water heater set to 140 degrees while making certain it never gets hotter than 120 degrees at the tap. Installing an anti-scald valve may be a DIY project for a skilled amateur plumbing, but the complexity of the task varies by the layout of the plumbing. Be sure to call a licensed plumbing professional if you have a challenging setup.

South End Plumbing specializes in water heaters, so remember, we are just a click away. We also specialize in tankless water heaters – give us a call! South End Plumbing is one of the only companies that will give you a free estimate. Call us at 704-919-1722 or fill out the form online to schedule a visit.