Keep the water heater’s temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe.
What Degrees Celsius Should a Water Heater Be Set at?
It seems that even regular tap water might be hazardous.
Each year, a number of patients (mainly kids) are sent to hospitals with burns brought on by water heaters that are set excessively high.
But what does “too high” really entail, and how can homeowners ensure that the temperature on their water heaters won’t cause them to be burned?
For safety and energy-saving reasons, the EPA advises a hot temperature setting of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
But since most dials aren’t marked with numbers, it might be difficult to locate that setting on the water heater temperature setting dial.
Use this approach if the water heater’s stickers don’t explain how to adjust the temperature and you can’t locate the owner’s manual:
- Run hot water for at least three minutes from the faucet that is closest to the water heater.
- Fill a glass, then test the hotness.
- Adjust the dial, wait approximately three hours, and check again whether the water is above 120 degrees.
- Continue until the water is 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
The temperature of the water heater should be checked one more time the next morning before anybody uses the hot water.
Once you’ve found the ideal setting, mark the dial so you don’t have to repeat the testing procedure.
