What we all hate in common is a cold shower in the freezing winters. When we suddenly run out of hot water, it is not a good feeling. It is important to properly set the temperature of your tankless water heater to ensure an uninterrupted supply of hot water.
Moreover, proper temperature settings of your tankless water heater are crucial for the safety of your health and save you on energy costs as well.
This article will analyze some of the important aspects of setting your tankless water heater temperatures. Keep reading till the end.
Why is the correct temperature range of a tankless water heater important?
There are many important reasons as to why your tankless water heater’s temperature should be in a proper setting. If this temperature is low, you will never get the hot water you need, it will remain at a lukewarm temperature.
At the same time, low temperatures can encourage bacterial growth inside the heater causing various infections. You can prevent this by setting the temperature at an optimum value.
Once again, as already mentioned, the temperature settings of your water heater are crucial for your health, safety, and budget.
Adjust the tankless water heater temperature
The procedure of setting the water heater temperature will depend on the make and model. However, generally, water heaters follow a common protocol.
The latest gas and electric water heaters come pre-installed with a thermostat at the back panel. However, the electric tankless water heaters usually have two thermostats; one at the bottom and the other on the top of the tank.
The tankless water heaters also have a special digital display that shows the current temperature along with other controls that you can toggle to adjust the temperature.
No matter the type of water heater you have, it is important that you test run it to figure out the exact temperature adjustment protocol. Switch on the water supply in your kitchen or bathroom and empty out all the cold water to allow hot water to come through.
You can place a thermometer under the running water tap to check the exact temperature and whether it matches with your setting on the thermostat or not.
How to check the current water temperature settings on the heater?
If you wish to check your current temperature settings on your tankless water heater, then simply take a look at the digital display. You can also directly measure the temperature using a thermometer; place it under the running water from the top and take the reading.
A good practice is to let the faucet run for a while so that the hot water comes out then measure the temperature.
How can the correct water heater temperature settings kill pathogens?
We have already warned you above that incorrect temperature settings may lead to bacterial infections. If you are concerned about pathogens living in your water heater, then you need to adjust the temperature immediately.
Use the booster settings so that the temperature of the hot water remains 140 degrees in the heater but when it mixes with cold water the temperature is lowered by 10 degrees until it reaches the faucet or the tap.
However, if the size of your home is big then it would take some time for the hot water to reach your bathroom or kitchen during which it can dissipate heat. Get a hot water circulating system to fix this problem. This will keep circulating the hot waters inside the pipes preventing it from cooling down until it is ready for use.
What factors influence the hot water heater temperature settings?
The main factors that influence the temperature settings of your tankless water heater are listed below.
Remember that the type of plumbing, source of heating usually does not affect the temperature settings or thermostat of your water heater.
- Homeowners that use dishwater who do not set any pre-heating temperatures, set their thermostat to 140 degrees.
- Older citizens or those households with infants keep their temperature settings relatively lower to 120 degrees.
- Those homeowners who suffer from auto-immune or respiratory problems must keep the temperature settings at least 140 degrees or higher.
- Those homeowners who live all alone like to set their water heater temperatures towards the lower range while people living in larger households go for higher ranges of water temperature settings to adjust everyone’s needs.
- If you are living on a budget and want a cost-effective option, then every 10-degree temperature you decrease will save you around 5 percent on your electricity bills.
Still cannot decide on the temperature setting? Then it is best to start with 120 degrees and slowly increase the temperature day by day to see what suits your needs the best.
However, there are certainly other factors that may influence the temperature settings of your tankless water heater. The distance of the faucet or the tap from the heater would determine the temperature of the water. If the distance is more, water may lose temperature while traveling along the pipes.
If the piping system in your house has small bores, it will take more time for the heater water to reach the outlet. The pipes that are installed under the house may get affected by the surrounding temperature in both winters and summers.
You can tackle the problem of water dissipating heat by investing in hot water circulation systems which will ensure that the heated water reaches the outlet in lesser time. This method reduces energy costs as well.
Summing It Up
It is important to adjust and manage the temperature of the tankless water heater in your home. In case, the adjustments with the thermostat do not heat the water to the right temperature, then it is best to get your water heater inspected for any damages.
In a worst-case scenario, you may need to replace your heater or its heating element. A professional plumber in your area, specializing in water heaters will be able to help you in the best manner.
