When is Hot Water Too Hot?
Setting the right temp is safer and can save money too!
If you ever look at the hot water heater in your home, you will see a knob near the bottom that allows you to control the temperature. How do you know what is the best setting? How hot is too hot?
As a leading professional home inspection company in Buffalo and all of Western New York, we often see water heaters where the temperature is set pretty darn high. It seems many people believe by setting the temperature higher you get more hot water. Unfortunately, you do not; you just get hotter water.
Ideally, the hot water coming out of your faucet should be somewhere between 120 and 125 degrees (F). A temperature set lower than that range will be inadequate and one higher could be unsafe and inefficient.
Here’s how to check the temperature of your hot water. The best time to check is in the morning before everyone starts using the hot water. Open just the hot water faucet at a sink and let it run for about a minute or until hot water starts flowing from the spigot. Take a thermometer and place it under the stream of water until it stabilizes. Read the temperature and there you have it. If it falls in the 120-125 range, no further action is necessary on your part. If it is higher, use the following chart as your guide.
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Lawrence Watkins is a NYS Licensed Home Inspector and the President of Specsure Property Inspections. As a leading full service residential home inspection and commercial property inspection company proudly serving Buffalo, Lewiston, Orchard Park and all of Western New York (WNY) for over 20 years, we are pleased to provide timely and simple DIY tips and hints for today’s homeowner.
For more information you can reach us at 716-881-1914 or via email at info@specsure.com.