Adjusting your water heater temperature

It's not difficult at all to adjust your water heater temperature. There was a time when homeowners expected their hot water to be scalding hot! But there are two very good reasons why it shouldn't be. First of all, very hot water can burn you; secondly, the hotter the water in your tank, the more energy it is going to use.

Why you should lower the temperature of your hot water

According to the US Department of Energy, simply lowering the temperature on your water heater thermostat by ten degrees Fahrenheit will save you as much as 3-5% in energy costs. In fact you will save up to 5% for every ten degrees you reduce the heat. And since many manufacturers still pre-set water heater thermostats as high as 140 °F (60 °C), by resetting the thermostat TO 120 °F, you can immediately save up to 10% every month.

By adjusting the water temperature in you hot water heater lower, you can also minimize the build-up of minerals and help to prevent corrosion of both the cylinder and its pipe work. Clearly this will help it to work more effectively and therefore ensure that it also lasts longer.

While it is true that some appliances, including dish washers and (if you believe hot water washes clothes cleaner) washing machines, utilize hotter water, it is in fact the appliance and not the hot water heater that increases the heat of the water. So don't get caught up in the debate of clothes and dishes needing scalding hot water from your water heater to be properly cleaned. Clothes will, in any case tend to shrink if they are washed in very hot water. So you might want to lower the heat on your washing machine setting. This will also save energy.

How to adjust the temperature of your water heater

While there are certain generic instructions that we can give, you should really consult the manual that came with your water heater. This will have accurate instructions for operating the thermostat and adjusting the temperature of the specific heater.

Nevertheless:

• If you own a gas water heater, have a look towards the base of the tank where you should find the thermostat dial. This is where you make the adjustment.
• Electric water heaters more often have their thermostat dials located behind a panel or plate that is screwed to the cylinder. They also often have two thermostats, one for the upper heating element and another for the lower element. Once you have located the thermostat dial, all you have to do is adjust it.Just be sure to shut off the electricity BEFORE you remove the panel or plate if yours is powered by electrical power. This is important since there will be wiring under the cover and the combination of water and electricity can be lethal.

Save money by manually adjusting your hot water heater

There is no reason to leave your hot water cylinder on all the time, particularly if it is powered by electricity. Instead you can turn it off, and then on again about half an hour before you want to bathe, shower, wash dishes or clothes. Just remember to switch it off again. You may be amazed at how much you are able to save on energy bills.

If you are going away from home for three or more days, it is good practice to turn off your hot water heater – or at very least turn the thermostat to its lowest setting. Generally you will need to switch off the circuit breaker to the heater. If you have a gas water heater, make sure you turn off the gas as well as the pilot light.

At the end of the day, adjusting your water heater temperature upwards will increase your bills; adjusting it downwards will invariably save you money.