Finding The Right Temperature Balance for Your Kingston Water Heater

For almost a century, Toshack has provided some of the best plumbing services in Kingston, and we’re always here to help.  One question we often hear is “how hot should my water heater be?”  This is actually somewhat of a complicated question, and it depends on both your heater, as well as the people in your family.

If you’re looking to optimize your hot water heater, here are some things you should keep in mind.

How To Find The Perfect Temperature For Your Water Heater

First, just in case you didn’t know: any modern water heater should have a dial on it which determines how hot the water is kept.  Locate that dial, so you know what to do if you want to change the temperature.

1 – Lower temperatures mean lower bills

This seems obvious, but it’s a good starting point: the hotter your water heater is set, the more energy it’s going to use to maintain that temperature.  Most hot water heaters are pre-set to around 140°F (60°C), but that’s actually hotter than most people need.  Lowering the temperature will reduce energy costs.

2 – Never go lower than 120°F (48°C)

However, you can’t set your water heater too low.  120°F is considered the minimum, because any colder, and you can start to get bacterial growth in the water tank or pipes.  This can make the water unsafe, as well as requiring costly repairs to clean and sterilize the equipment.

3 – Lower the temperature to 120°F (48°C) if you have young children

Young kids are much more sensitive to hot water than teens or adults.  A baby can be scalded by 140°F water and receive third-degree burns in only five seconds.  Given how easily accidents can happen, it’s simply unsafe to set your hot water heater higher than 120°F when there are young children around.

4 – Keep the temperature higher if someone in your home has immune issues

A hot water heater kept at 120°F (48°F) will kill most bacteria in the water, but there will still be a small amount.  This isn’t a problem for most people, but it can be dangerous for those with immune system disorders or respiratory infections.  Raise the temperature to 130-140°F.

For the same reasons, keep the temperature higher if your dishwasher doesn’t pre-heat its water.  Otherwise, your dishes may not be thoroughly sterilized.

We’re Proud to Provide Quality Kingston Plumbing Services

If you ever need plumbing services in Kingston, Toshack can help!  From maintaining your existing plumbing services to installing upgrades, just contact us for assistance.