Water heaters provide an incredible convenience for the modern home. Without a water heater, performing basic tasks such as taking showers, washing dishes, and washing clothes would be challenging.
An essential part of owning a water heater is using it efficiently. You can upgrade your water heater to improve its efficiency. One of the easiest ways is to use less energy and properly dial in your water heater’s temperature. Here’s a guide on how to adjust the temperature of a water heater.
Know the Limits
First things first: when adjusting your water heater’s temperature, you mustn’t set it higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Beyond that, you risk scalding due to the high temperature of the water.
Most water heaters have a mark on the temperature control. This clarifies where to set the control so that you don’t go higher than 120 degrees. The only reason you would ever want to exceed this temperature is if you were using your water heater to do some type of cleaning where you needed the water hot enough to sanitize the surfaces you are cleaning.
A Simple Setting
For the most part, changing the temperature on a water heater is quite simple. Most water heaters have a basic rotary knob that you can rotate to turn the temperature up or down.
In general, you will need to turn the knob counter-clockwise to turn the temperature down and clockwise to turn the temperature up. Other water heaters may also have various settings that you can engage to help optimize the water temperature for your living situation.
Don’t Forget Vacations
When you aren’t home for an extended period, most plumbers recommend that you turn your water heater down so that you aren’t wasting energy to keep water hot while you’re away. Many water heaters have a “vacation” setting that you can use so that you don’t have to overthink where to set your water heater’s temperature.
Newer water heaters can connect to the internet so that you can adjust the temperature from wherever you are, even if you forget to do so before you leave home.
Take Time to Assess
For most people, adjusting the temperature is the only face-to-face interaction with their water heater. It’s a good idea to assess the overall condition of your water heater to make sure there aren’t any apparent problems.
If you notice any leaks, rust, or unusual odors, make sure to schedule an appointment with a plumber as soon as possible. Plumbers can provide you with diagnoses and repairs as needed. They can also adjust the temperature as part of their service. If you see any water heater issues, consider reaching out to the plumber before adjusting the temperature.
Lack of Hot Water
You may notice a lack of hot water coming from your water heater and be tempted to turn up the temperature to compensate. In some cases, increasing the temperature on your water heater is all it takes to overcome a lack of hot water.
If you continue to notice this problem, however, you likely have an issue with your water heater. This issue should be addressed immediately.
Ignoring this problem for too long will only lead to more expensive repairs down the road. So it makes sense to take care of it quickly. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t ignore your water heater.
