Best temperature to set your water heater on, Avoid the chills by warm baths

It's tempting to reduce the temperature of your water heater to save money, but before you do, read this to ensure you're getting the most comfort and savings without adversely affecting your health.

Why Is Water Heater Temperature Important?

Most people don't think much about their water heaters—let alone the specific details of the temperature settings—aside from hoping the hot water lasted far longer throughout a shower. [caption id="attachment_59620" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Water Heater | Image: housegrail[/caption] However, there are several compelling reasons to be concerned about the temperature of your water heater. These considerations apply to both conventional tank-based and tankless water heaters. Are you unsure which one you have? A cylindrical holding tank sits on the floor of tank-based water heaters. Tankless water heaters are usually wall-mounted and have no holding tank because they heat water on demand. There is a higher risk of scalding if your water heater is set very hot. If it is set too low, microorganisms may proliferate in the water. These microorganisms can make you extremely ill, especially if they become aerosolized while you're showering.

Recommended average temp for your water heater

[caption id="attachment_59623" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image: Team ProductLine[/caption] When adjusting the thermostat on your water heater, there are several factors to consider. Let's take a look at the various temperature ranges and when you'll want to use them. The absolute minimum temperature you should set your water heater to is 120°F. This occurs because Legionella bacteria survive at temperatures ranging from 77°F to 113°F, which is not hot enough to kill them. You may want to compensate by turning up the temperature of the water in your dishwashers and washing machines if they have an electric heating element that raises the temperature of the water at the device itself.