Are you sick and tired of burning yourself every time you turn on the hot water in the bathroom? Have you encountered problems with the temperature of your water, no matter how high you turn it up? These signs do not necessarily indicate that you need a water heater replacement in auburn, WA, but that the thermostat setting may not be right for your needs.
An improperly set water heater can impact your life in ways unrelated to plumbing, including in ways you don’t even realize. Also, it could affect your health or the health of others in your household. Your water heater consumes 18% of your home’s energy. A change of just 10 degrees in your water heater can reduce your monthly energy bill by three to five percent.
The question is, how should you set your temperature when there are so many things at stake? A simple answer to this question is that there is no set or straightforward answer, and some of it depends on personal preference. However, the following tips can help ensure that your temperature setting is just perfect.
Temperatures Recommended for Water Heaters
The Water Quality Guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency suggest that you should maintain a water temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping your water at that temperature will not scald you, and most families with small children will be able to get all the hot water they need.
Reheating won’t use up an excessive amount of energy, so that you will save money. Although this temperature may be ideal for some people, it isn’t for everyone. In some homes, the temperature will need to be a bit higher, but be careful when going over this mark if you want to avoid unwanted water heater repair in Puyallup, WA.
How to Adjust the Water Heater Temperature?
Possibly you’re trying to reduce scalding by lowering the water temperature, or maybe you want to help the dishwasher work better by turning up the water heater. To adjust your water heater settings, follow these instructions:
Take a reading of the current temperature:
It is best to turn on the hot water at the furthest faucet from the water heater to get an accurate reading. To determine if an adjustment is needed, place a thermostat under running water.
Locate the thermostat dial:
There are dials at the bottom of gas water heater tanks for adjusting the temperature. In electric water heaters, the thermostat is usually hidden behind a panel screwed onto the unit. Depending on the type of electric water heater, there might be two dials if there are heating elements on the upper and lower ends. If you have trouble with it, call a professional for furnace repair in Kent, WA and they will help you.
Ensure the setting is correct:
Adjust the thermostat by adjusting it slightly up or down from the position it was set to at the beginning. After that, wait a few hours. Take another measurement of the water temperature and adjust it as needed as you go along. Once you are satisfied with the final setting, you should mark it on the dial to make it easier to change it again if necessary.
Ways to Improve Water Heater Efficiency
Invest in a higher-efficiency unit
Installing a water heater with a higher efficiency rating is the easiest way to improve the efficiency of your water heater. Running a unit with a low-efficiency rating will result in higher operating costs even if you take good care of it. When buying a new water heater, ensure it has the Energy Star label to ensure that it is a high-efficiency model. The energy factor of these water heaters is at least 0.67.
Get annual professional maintenance
Annual maintenance performed by a professional is essential if you want to maximize the efficiency of your water heater. When experts conduct a maintenance service, they will make sure that any issues that may negatively affect your water heater’s efficiency, as well as its performance, are addressed. It is a great way to guarantee that the efficiency rating on your water heater is as accurate as it should be.
Remove the sediment from your water heater
Over time, sediment builds up on the bottom of your water heater’s tank as it is used. As a result, the heat transferred from the burners of your water heater to the water inside your tank becomes more difficult. This increases your system’s workload and energy consumption and might need furnace repair in Puyallup. By draining a few gallons annually from the bottom of your water heater, you can minimize this efficiency problem.
Tank and pipe insulation
The water heater’s tank, piping, and burner all lose considerable heat (and energy). To save energy, insulate your water storage tank and exposed pipes so that the heat is not lost as the water travels from the water heater to its destination. Your energy bill can be significantly reduced with insulation blankets! They are relatively inexpensive and can have a big impact! When covering electric tanks’ thermostats, or gas tanks’ tops, bottoms, thermostats, or burners, be especially careful.
Schedule Water Heater Services with – Dicks Heating
You can count on Dicks Heating to help you adjust the temperature of your water heater or schedule a repair or water heater replacement in Puyallup WA. When your water heater reaches the end of its lifespan, we’ll replace it and perform comprehensive repairs.
Get in touch with Dicks Heating today if you would like to schedule water heater maintenance with a skilled technician!
