How to Adjust Hot Water Heater Temperature

Are you looking for ways to adjust hot water heater temperature? I believe you are, which is why you stumbled across my page. But don’t worry because all your doubts and confusions are about to go away once you go through this entire article. Learning how to adjust the hot water heater temperature is not hard at all but the scary stories related to the outcomes are hard to digest.

The truth is, this is a very technical job, and you need to be very careful with the adjustments because, if the temperature is set too high, you run at the risk of burning yourself. Too low temperatures can force you to stand shivering under a cold shower and get sick afterward. So, to avoid any such happening, I suggest you read the following article and try to follow the steps, in order, to avoid any problems later on.

How to Adjust Hot Water Heater Temperature

Test The Temperature Of The Heated Water

Ideally, the safest temperature to set your water heater to is 49 degrees. All the water heater manufacturers recommend this temperature for domestic consumption as it poses the least risk of any mishap.

This is the reason why almost all of the hot water heaters come pre-set at this temperature. So, it is best to leave it to that and not meddle with the thermostat. However, if your water heater is old and it is not heating the water properly, it suggests that there is a problem with the heating elements of your water heater.

In case of impaired heating elements, it is best to call professional help and let the experts handle the job.

However, if there is nothing wrong with the heating elements and you just want to adjust the temperature, it is better to test the temperature of the water coming out of the water heater.

For this purpose, fill a glass with the heated water and check its temperature using a cooking thermometer. This will give you an accurate reading of the actual water temperature.

Locate The Thermostat Dial And Adjust The Temperature

To adjust the temperature of the water heater, you must locate the thermostat dial on your water heater. It may be positioned at the back or at the front.

However, if you are facing difficulty pinpointing the position of the knob, refer to the accompanying instructions manual. It will give you a fair idea of where it is positioned and how to use it to adjust the temperature of the water heater.

In case you can not find your manual, let me give you a broad idea of how to adjust the temperature of the water heater using the knob. If you want to increase the temperature of the heater, i.e., make the water hotter, twist the knob in the anticlockwise direction.

On the flip side, if you want to lower the temperature of the water heater, simply twist the knob to the left. The knob will have a number scale of various degrees ranging between 32 to 66 degrees, thus making it easier for you to adjust the temperature.

However, if you have an old water heater, it is possible that your thermostat knob will not be numbered. In this case, setting the thermostat to the right temperature will be a little harder as it will involve an extra step to manually check the temperature of your water heater.

Everything else remains the same, just twist the knob little by little and keep taking temperature measurements, using a cooking thermometer, at intervals to keep track of the temperature of your water heater. Stop changing the temperature when the thermometer shows your preferred reading.

Climatic Changes

Using a hot water heater, you can enjoy an endless supply of steaming hot water in the comforts of your home during winters.

The best part is that you can set the thermostat of your water heater higher to get hotter water. You can use this hot water for any purpose, ranging from enjoying luxurious hot water baths to laundry and ding dishes.

On the other hand, you can also lower the temperature of the water heater during summers when the need for hot water is considerably reduced.

Decreased temperature of your water heater means that less energy will be consumed to heat up the water, thus saving you a few bucks on your utility bill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I adjust the temperature of my hot water heater?

Yes, you can definitely adjust the temperature of your hot water heater no matter which type of water heater you are using. For this purpose, you must refer to the instructions manual accompanying the water heater. It will give a clear idea of how to go about in the correct manner to accomplish this task. In any case, you will have to locate the thermostat knob and twist it in the clockwise direction to lower the temperature and anticlockwise direction to increase the temperature.

What is the ideal temperature to set your hot water heater at?

The manufacturers of the hot water heater suggest that you keep the temperature of your hot water heater at 49 degrees at most. The reason being, there are certain limitations to the domestic environment, thus making it impossible to manage the boiling water temperatures. This is why a brand new set of water heaters comes with the temperature pre-set at 49 degrees. However, you can adjust the temperature as per your needs.

Final Thoughts

After reading this entire article, you are now fully aware of how to adjust hot water heater temperature all by yourself. The whole process is not so hard, you just have to be careful of a few things to ensure your own safety as well as those of your family members. For starters, don’t set the temperature too high, and secondly, measure the temperature of the water before and after the adjustments to avoid any accidents and mishaps.


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