In many homes, there is a constant battle over the thermostat. It seems as if everyone has a different opinion about what a comfortable temperature is, but there is one temperature that doesn’t get talked about as often, and that is the temperature your water heater is set for.
Most models will have a range between 120 and 160 Fahrenheit that you can set it for, and some homeowners will just crank it all the way up because they think it will get them comfortable water quicker, but there are several reasons why this is a bad idea.
The obvious issue is that you will be spending a lot more energy keeping the water at that temperature. The way a water heater works, it will keep the water close to that temperature all the time, even when you aren’t using any hot water. There is also the danger of scalding your skin. While there are other safeguards in place that should make it less likely to happen, 160-degree water could damage your skin in a very short period of time.
Keeping the water heater at 120 degrees is recommended in most settings, and if you aren’t getting the hot water you need, you might want to check with a plumber if there is another issue instead of just cranking up the temperature on the water heater.
