If you set your water heater’s temperature too low, you’re taking cold showers and trying to wash and sanitize dishes in lukewarm water. Set it too hot, and you or someone in your household could be badly hurt due to scalding injuries. Is there really a happy medium for the temperature your water heater should be locked off at, and why?
Most water heaters are set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit as a factory default. This is hot enough to deliver a piping hot shower without undue risk of scalding. But according to the EPA, the optimal setting for your water heater is actually 120—a difference of 20 degrees! This setting is the most energy-efficient, and the lowest temperature that will reliably suppress growth of microorganisms in your water tank during long periods of disuse, such as the bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ Disease. 120 is also a relatively safe temperature for most adults, elderly people, and small children or infants because it reduces the risk of scalds and burns.
However, the water you get from the tap or showerhead could be as much as 10 degrees cooler by the time it gets to you, depending on how far it has to travel from the heater and through the pipes. If your water heater is in a closet on the other side of the wall from your bathroom, you likely won’t notice a difference. If it’s down in the basement and you’ve got a three-story split-level home with your bathroom on the top floor, you likely will, especially in colder weather or if your home is older and not as well insulated as it could be.
Finding the perfect water temperature for you and your family doesn’t have to be a challenge, but you do have a few things to think about to decide how high, or low, you can go with your water heater. If you need anything from a water temperature adjustment to routine maintenance to major repair, contact a licensed, certified plumber so you and your family can enjoy safe, clean, comfortable water!
