During the winter, there’s nothing better than a hot shower to warm up. However, you might want to consider lowering the temperature on your home’s water heater. Here are the top three reasons why you should consider lowering your water heater temperatures and how to do it:

1. Safety: Depending on the type of water heater you have, most are automatically set to 140 degrees. At that temperature, you are at risk for scalding. Consider dialing back your water heater temperature to 120 degrees to minimize that risk.
2. Savings: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can get up to 22 percent of energy savings when you turn down your water heater temperature. The savings come from reducing standby loss, which is the heat lost from the water heater into the environment.

The average household with a water heater temperature set to 140 degrees loses up to $61 annually in standby heat loss. If you opt to lower your water heater temperature, additional savings can come from the reduced energy required to heat the same amount of water to 120 degrees instead of 140 degrees. Experts also recommend turning down your water heater to its lowest settings if you plan to be away for an extended period.

3. Sediment: Sediment buildup in your home’s water heater is a big factor in water heater tank corrosion that can shorten the life of your unit. Water temperature set above 120 degrees contributes to the accumulation of hard water mineral sediment. Sediment buildup can also cause your water heater to work harder and need more energy to operate.

How to lower your water heater temperature:

1. Read your water heater’s instruction manual to find your water heater’s thermostat and operation instructions. Electric water heaters might have two thermostats, and both will need adjusting.
2. Find the current temperature of your water at its hottest point by testing a faucet located farthest from the water heater with a thermometer.
3. Dial back your water heater if the water temperature registers higher than 120 degrees.
4. Retest the same faucet after waiting a few hours.
5. Repeat the steps to get the water to the desired temperature.

If you have any questions, give us a call at 1-800-989-0299! We’re available 24/7 for all your plumbing and HVAC needs.