This article is especially dedicated to answering some of the most frequently asked questions people have about water heaters. With these answers, we aim to be able to provide a sort of collection of information that can guide every buyers out there that are planning to get on with a tankless water heater for their homes.
Read through the answers we provided and you might just find a solution or a guide to a question you may already have in your mind about your water heater or the water heater that you’ve been eyeing. This is your water heater informational guide.
How to Know The Correct Temperature for Your Water Heater?
The temperature of the majority of electric and gas water heater models are pre-set at the factory. Thankfully they are easy enough to adjust to suit your own needs. This is habitually done in a wee span of time with the help of just a few tools. Pre-adjustment of your water heater temperature, you need to be aware that getting the temperature wrong could result in rather severe consequences.
Setting the temperature too high can result in an escalated utility bill, or the worst-case scenario, it could cause severe burns or scalds. Although, if your water heater’s temperature is not high enough, this can increase the chance of a bacterial infection. It’s essential to learn how to balance the temperature of your water heater correctly.
How to Check a Water Heater Temperature?
The majority of water heaters available on the market now do not arrive with a temperature gauge. They’re fitted with a thermostat, but those are made to modulate the heating range of the device. To ascertain the water temperature that is ideal that you need, all you will need is a thermometer along with a cup.
You must turn away your water heater for an hour minimum, prior to choosing to place the water temperature in order to find the best results. Following 60 minutes twist. Till it reaches its highest temperature, Allow the water stream for a single minute, fill up the cup, and then go ahead and use your thermometer.
What is The Recommended Temperature Range for a Water Heater?
Depending on whom you choose to listen to, the recommended range of temperature for water heaters vary from 120 degrees to 140 degrees. The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) recommends setting the temperatures at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommends setting the temperatures at 120 degrees Fahrenheit to minimize their power consumption. The EPA does explain that setting your temperature at 120 degrees still means that your water is sanitized for use. Whether you choose to set your temperature at 140 or 120 degrees, is mostly a matter of preference.
However, for families who have smaller children or elderly, it is probably advisable to choose the lower temperature to prevent any accidents that might result in scalding or burning. On the flip side, if you do have children, you probably do a lot more sanitizing and cleaning of your household appliances. To ensure that these are cleaned correctly, you should have adjusted the temperature upwards to 140 degrees. It is best to err on the side of caution by setting your temperature at 130 degrees. At this temperature, the water is hot enough to sanitize but remains low enough to prevent burning.
How to Safely Adjust a Water Heater’s Temperature?
If the temperature of the water your heater is delivering is not as you wish, you can adjust it; all you need is a screwdriver, small wrench, and a socket. At this point, it’s essential to remember that the water heater thermostats are present in the factory to a specific temperature. If you do adjust it, remember that it is vital to test the water afterward, so as not to cause any severe burns.
Electric Water Heaters
Turning off your circuit breakers would be the first step you’d have to take. When you’re able to detach the access, you will find the temperature adjustment just under the cover. Using a screwdriver, turn the thermostat in the direction of your desired temperature level, allow the temperature of the water to sort of reboot, and probe it using the nearest water faucet and the method we described earlier. If the temperature is too high, turn off the power again and use the screwdriver to readjust until you are satisfied. You can always test the water again, then replace the panels and installation.
Gas Water Heaters
Most standard gas water heaters have a setting knob that is designed to allow you to adjust the water temperature as you desire. To adjust the temperature of the heater, turn the knob to the hot setting; to reduce the temperature, turn it to the cold setting. Most heaters also come with a vacation setting, choosing this setting turns the heater off if you are not in the house.
What are The Risks of Your Water Not Being Hot Enough?
A hundred and over Americans are hospitalized annually with a variety of bacterial infections that have been caused by a domestic water heater. One of the most common issues is a strain of pneumonia that is called Legionnaires’ Disease. This can be notably unsafe. The respiratory tract is one of the most accessible places to catch legionnaires while you’re taking a shower. A decrepit immune can be put in danger if we’re talking about this particular disease, especially the elderly and the young children.
Many strains of bacteria thrive in water that remains stagnant below 500C. This is why it’s vitally important to know how to maintain your water at 600C to prevent this bacteria from growing. To minimize the risk of Legionnaires’ Disease spreading in your home, keep your water tank temperatures over 120 degrees.
Recommended Solutions
Experts recommend the best way to ensure your water temperature is neither too low or too high. To install the simple temperature regulator on your water heater, a temperature regulator, also known as a thermostatic mixing valve, can be installed on the water heater outlets. These devices allow people to regulate standard water temperatures while the water, hot and cold, automatically mixes as it passes through the device; making it much safer for everyone to use the water heater unsupervised.
Even the most elementary temperature regulators are fully compatible with the vast majority of water heaters on the market. Cost per piece would be $150 approximately. To increase safety throughout your home, install temperature regulators on all your faucets and your shower outlets, these cost approximately $10 to $50 apiece. Be reminded that if you happen to adjust the temperature of your water heater, you should always test the water temperature afterward in order to ensure it is safe to use.