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Truth be told, cold showers are great when you need to energize your body, but you shouldn’t do it on a regular basis. There’s also the annoying scenario when you end up being scalded from the hot water. Setting the appropriate temperature on your tankless water heater is fundamental for both your health and safety. Plus, it can also save you a buck or two.
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Why is it essential to have the proper temperature range?
Even if the most obvious reason for setting the right temp is your safety and comfort, there are actually plenty of other reasons to consider. If the temp is too low, the chances of showering with lukewarm water are pretty high. It’s not that you catch a cold, but you may also develop a bacterial growth such as Legionnaire’s disease.
You must set the water heater to a temperature that doesn’t allow legionella bacteria to grow. OSHA (Occupational Safety& Health Administration) highlights that water heaters (no matter the type) shouldn’t be set lower than 140F degrees. The setting reduces the risk for Legionella and other microorganisms to thrive.
In all fairness, some may feel tempted to go higher, but the water will be too hot and quite dangerous, especially when there are kids in the house. Did you know that it only takes the water to be 150F hot for causing third-degree burns? CPSC (the Consumer Product Safety Commission) suggests us not to set the water heater higher 120F degrees, for reducing the risk of scalding.
We should also highlight that a high temperature on your tankless water heater will also increase the electricity bill. And cutting down the utility bill is one of the many reasons for which you switched to tankless water heaters.
Let’s not forget that all households have their particularities. The distance between the faucet and the water heater is also significant. When the faucet is far from the water heater, the heat will be lost, especially when the pipes don’t have proper insulation. You need to increase the temp over the ideal 120F degrees.
At the end of the day, you should use common sense when setting the temperature on your tankless water heater. It’s only fair to note that anything from 120 to 140F degrees is good. When it comes to adjustments, it’s better to run a few tests until you have a clear idea about the best temperature for your home.
How to adjust the temperature on your tankless water heater?
It doesn’t take rocket science to notice that tankless water heaters come with various interfaces; therefore, the settings can vary a lot. However, the adjustments are quite similar.
In the case of gas and electric water heaters, there is a thermostat right behind the insulated access panel. It’s also typical for electric models to include two thermostats- one at the top and one at the bottom.
There are two kinds of tankless water heater systems: the large household units that can provide on-demand hot water to the whole house, and the POU (point of use) devices that are mounted near a delivery point. You may adjust them for a specific application, according to your particular needs.
The majority of tankless water heaters include a display with temperature readout and user-friendly controls for customizing the temp.
Setting the tankless water heater resembles adjusting the thermostat for the AC. Operate the digital control panel for customizing the temp, using the up and down arrows. The LED controls on the panel let you control the temperature more comfortable than in the case of traditional water heaters with tanks. You may set the temperature degree by degree and not by using a less accurate dial control.
Should you use several tankless water heaters in your house, you may actually set the temperature individually for each of them. You may need hotter water in your bathroom than for your washing machine, for instance.
Don’t forget that you also have to customize the vent controls when using a gas-fired tankless water heater. Thanks to the computerized temperature controls, you can select from fan settings that allow you to adjust the temperature. You want a system that clears out vapors posing a threat when you forgot to turn on the hot water for some time.
One last recommendation
Regardless of the type of water heater, it’s better that you test the water before actually making the adjustments. Turn on the water in a kitchen sink or bathroom, letting it run until it’s hot. Simply take a thermometer under the water, for a precise reading.
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