SHOULD YOU ADJUST YOUR WATER HEATER TEMPERATURE?
Your water heater can be one of the biggest energy consuming appliances in your home. If you’re looking to cut back on energy costs adjusting your water heater temperature could be a good place to start. If you set your water heater temperature too low, you could be turning your water heater into a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria. But by setting it too high you could end up with a third-degree burn. In this article we will discuss a few things you need to think about before adjusting your water temperature.
How Low can you adjust your heater to?
It is highly recommended that you don’t set your water heater to anything below 120 degrees. Any temperature below 120 degrees can cause harmful pathogens that can cause diseases to develop in the stagnant water inside the water heater, particularly Legionella, which is quite dangerous. The higher your water temperature is pathogens die off quicker.
120 degrees is the minimum temperature your water heater should be at, if everyone in your home has a strong immune system. Homes with occupants that have a suppressed immune system or respiratory disease should keep the hot water set to 140 degrees.You might also need to set the temperature higher if you have a dishwasher that does not pre-heat the water. 
What About Scalding- Third Degree Burns?
At 140 degrees, water can cause a third degree burn in five seconds. And because it takes several seconds for hot water to travel through your pipes and reach your faucet or shower-head, you’ll never know exactly when the scalding water will suddenly arrive.
Children and elderly can be more susceptible to water burns because their skin is thinner. A solution to avoid third-degree burns would be to install an anti-scald valve. By installing a anti-scald valve you can keep your water heater set to 140 degrees while also insuring it never gets hotter than 120 degrees.
What’s Your Current Temperature Setting?
If you look at the dial on your water heater or by taking a temperature reading from a faucet you can find your current temperature setting.
Rely on our expert Accl Plumbers:
If you’re worried about pathogens in your hot water, and are worried about scalding water, or if you need help adjusting your water heater or troubleshooting any problems, Contact us today for your free estimate!
Accl Plumbing offers repair and replacement services. We would be pleased to develop a guaranteed unique solution to keep your cleanouts, sewer blockages, clogged drains, burst pipes, broken water heater or over flowing toilets, free of any obstructions. We can help. Call 1(905) 448-5909 or visit our contact page to drop us a message http://acclplumbing.com/contact-us/
