Personally, I want very hot water. Knowing how to adjust your water heater thermostat works both ways. In fact, one customer ask,

The short answer is YES. Water heaters are the 2nd highest energy source in your home, next to the HVAC system. Below you will find instructions on how to adjust your water heater thermostat. There are simple steps you can take to help keep the temperature at a constant while making sure your plumbing system  is functioning properly while you minimize the need for plumbing service and repairs. For a list of energy efficient water heaters click on Energy Efficient Water Heaters from Energy Star. 

Your plumbing actually uses quite a bit of energy in your home. The water heater, washer & dryer, and dishwasher are all in the top 10 energy consuming systems of your home. The hot water you use to wash clothes, dishes and to bathe all must be heated, and that uses electricity and that costs money. Of course, you need hot water but you control how hot that water is. Most water heaters are set at a default to 140°F, which is really hotter than you need your water to be. A simple step to reduce your energy bill every month is to turn your water heater down to 120°F. This is plenty hot enough to take care of all of your hot water needs and it will make a noticeable difference in your total energy consumption. Turning down your water heater from 140 degrees F to 120 degrees F can shave 10  percent or more from your electric bill.

1. Locate the thermostat control knob on your water  heater. This is generally on the lower section of the heater on the front. The  control knob may be red in color with various markings and words on it. Some  units have a digital readout while others have lines or temperature numbers on  the knob itself.

2. Look for a small black line or arrow directly above the knob. Note the  marking on the knob that lines up with the black line or arrow. This marking  indicates the current setting. Depending on the make and model of your hot water heater, this setting may be  labeled as a word such as “hot,” “warm,” or “vacation,” may be a black line  (about 120 degrees), a white line (about 105 to 110 degrees), or may actually  have temperature values such as “120, “110,” and so forth on  it.

3. Slowly turn the knob counterclockwise until you reach the desired thermostat  setting if you want to lower the temperature. Turn the knob clockwise to  increase the temperature.

At Duncan Plumbing Solutions, we are here to help you with money saving tips and plumbing DIY. If you need a plumber, just call!

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