Tips on Setting Water Heater Temperatures

• When you lower your water heater temperature, you can save energy and money. According to a U.S. Department of Energy article entitled "Lower Water Heating Temperature for Energy Savings," every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you lower your water heater's thermostat setting reduces your water heating energy costs by 3 to 5 percent. Lowering the temperature is usually easy.

Consult Your Manual

• Your water heater owner's manual contains operation and use instructions, which is your first resource. For a gas water heater, the thermostat dial is likely near the bottom of the tank on the valve. For an electric water heater, the thermostat may be located behind a screw-on panel or plate on the tank. Turn off the electricity that connects to the water heater before making any adjustment. Remember that an electric water heater can have one thermostat for the upper heating element and another for the lower.

Know Your Starting Point

• Some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Water set at this temperature has an advantage and a disadvantage unrelated to energy cost savings. Dishwashers manufactured without a heater booster usually require a temperature in this range to perform at their optimal cleaning level. If your dishwasher has its own booster, the water heater temperature is less relevant. The disadvantage is that water at 140 degrees Fahrenheit can cause injury from scalding. To discover the actual temperature, visit the hot water tap in your home that is the most distant from the water heater. Use a thermometer to check the temperature and record it.

Adjust and Compare

• By lowering the temperature of your water heater by 20 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, you save energy, decrease the likelihood of scalding injury and achieve an additional benefit. The temperature reduction slows both corrosion and mineral buildup in your plumbing pipes and inside your water heater. This adjustment can actually help increase the efficiency of your water heater and prolong its workable lifespan.

  To adjust, mark your thermostat dial first at the beginning temperature, which is likely to be 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Make a mark at the newly adjusted temperature. By doing so, you will have a reliable reference point for comparison. Once the temperature is reduced, visit the hot water tap that is the most distant from the water heater. Use a thermometer to check the temperature.

When You Are Away

• When you plan to be away from your home for three or more days, turn down the thermostat. If your climate and the location of your water heater permit, you can turn it down to its lowest setting or turn it off. To turn off your electric water heater, you can switch off the circuit breaker that connects to it. When you turn off a gas water heater, be certain that the pilot is off and no gas is flowing to it. Before the shutoff, ensure you know how to safely relight the pilot when you want to resume operation again.

  An exception to shutting off the water heater is if your home is in an extremely cold climate and your water heater might become subject to freezing temperatures. Freezing would likely damage or destroy the water heater and surrounding areas in your home.