It’s Not As Easy As You Might Think
If you find that your water isn’t as hot as you’d like, so you head over to your heater to change the temperature directly. Easy, right? You arrived at your water heater only to be greeted by a single dial. One end of the dial reads WARM, and the other reads HOT. Without much to go on, you turn the dial-up, only to find that your shower now spews hot lava instead of water. How are you supposed to find the right temperature between WARM and HOT?
The Perfect Water Temperature
Before setting out to change your heater’s water temperature, you should know a little about how water temperature affects water quality. For example, low water temperatures may be gentle and pleasant. Still, they can also allow bacteria to breed in your water tank! According to Energy.gov the most efficient temperature to keep your water heater at is 120° F. However, water must reach 140° F before it kills off any present microorganisms. Temperatures around 120° F and below may promote the growth of legionellae bacteria. This organism is the one that causes Legionnaires disease. If that weren’t bad enough, water at temperatures near 140° F could scald children and the elderly.
How, then, do you choose the right water temperature? Well, temperatures between 130° F and 140° F are generally considered safe for most people, so you are best off finding your ideal temperature within that range. But, of course, if you want to live dangerously, you may want to try for something closer to 120° F or higher than 140° F. If you can get your water heater to cooperate with you, that is.
How To Gauge Temperature
Unfortunately, most water heater manufacturers don’t equip their units with a gauge that can accurately represent the temperature of your water. You can take your measurements relatively easily using a heat-resistant cup, a thermometer, and some time. All you have to do is follow these steps:
- First, collect water from the tap furthest from your water heater.
- Next, measure and record the temperature using a thermometer.
- Adjust the temperature dial either higher or lower according to your measurements.
- Wait an hour or so until the water in your heater has fully changed the water temperature.
- Repeat steps 1-4 until you find the right temperature, then mark it on your heater’s knob.
Before measuring your water temperature, leave the water running for a minute or so to ensure that it reaches its full potency.
Upgrade Your Water Heater Today!
If you still can’t get the temperature right after following these steps, your heater may have a problem! Don’t worry! The water heater experts at Genmor Plumbing can help you find the perfect replacement for your aging water heater. You could even find a new tankless model with digital temperature control! Call us at (408) 215-4612 to help find your dream water heater!
For all our readers outside of California, we invite you to look at the services provided by one of our favorite Colorado plumbers, Done Plumbing & Heating. Done is the top provider of Aurora tankless water heaters and other plumbing service in the area. So you can trust them with all your water heater-related concerns.
