Water Heater Temperature

This is the time of year that our furnaces and water heaters are working over time.

So how hot is too hot for your water heater?

According to the US Department of Energy, anything over 120 degrees can cause instant scalding.

Some people think keeping it at 140 degrees kills off bacteria, but it just isn’t practical or worth a trip to the ER for burns.

For a gas water heater the temperature valve is usually located near the bottom of the tank on the gas valve.
For electric water heaters there are usually 2 thermostats located on the upper and lower regions of the tank.

As a precaution, be sure to turn off the electricity to the water heater before changing the temperature.

-The Neighborhood Handyman