The What & Why of Water Heater Adjustment
Generally, this is a personal problem. Your water heater’s manufacturing settings likely have the temperature set somewhere between 120-140 degrees fahrenheit. You could call that the sweet spot, and most heaters won’t require an adjustment.
But, if you are experiencing one of the problems outlined below – slow response time, increased energy bills or your water is simply too cold – you may need to adjust your temp.
Why?
- Tap Time: If you turn on the tap and have to wait ages for warm water, you likely need to adjust your temperature. Give it a try to save time, water & money!
- Tap Temperature: If you’re one of those people who likes to shower with water so hot you are almost scalded, and your tap just isn’t doing it for you, you may need an adjustment. But be careful, and take the temp up slowly. Water above 140 degrees can burn you in 3 seconds!
- Tap Tightening: If your energy bills have been through the roof, it may be time to tighten the purse strips – by lowering the temperature! The less your water heater has to heat up, the lower your bill will be.
Once you decide to raise your temperature up or down, the first step is determining the current level. The water heater itself will have a temperature dial that shows you what the device is set at.
Depending on whether you have a gas, electric or tankless water heater, the mode of adjustment may be slightly different but most should be fairly intuitive. Simply turn the dial on the thermostat left or right depending on the indicators and desired temperature.
If you have any questions or need some help adjusting your water heater, call at (440) 283-9377 to get in touch with your family plumbers over here at Ohio Buckeye!