Adjusting Your Water Heater Temperature

Proper Temperature

Your water heater should be opated within a certain temperature range for several reasons. Not only because lukewarm isn’t satisfactory to do a lot of things for homeowners, but also because it can encourage bacterial development that can be harmful to your health. When you set your heater at a certain temperature, these bacteria cannot grow. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) advises setting water heaters to at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). As per the consensus of specialists, water heaters that are below 120 degrees provide a risk of developing bacteria, such as legionella, which causes Legionnaire's disease. 

How To Adjust Temperatures On Gas Water Heaters?

First, turn off the water heater using your circuit breaker; you wouldn’t want to harm yourself. Most of the time, on gas water heaters, the temperature control knob will be situated close to the unit's base. All you have to do is rotate the knob. The only issue is that, unfortunately, most of these heaters don’t have written-out temperatures like 120, 130, or 140. Instead, they might have symbols or can write low or high. To guide you, we can give you an idea of what these symbols represent. Most of the time, the “low” option or a circle represents 90-100 degrees. If it says “high” or if there's a triangle, it usually indicates 120 degrees. After hot, either letters or numbers can appear, such as A, B, C, or 1, 2, 3, and since these come right after 120, they correspond to 130, 140, and 150. Anything after that is usually around 160 degrees. Depending on your wish, you can adjust the setting.

How Do You Adjust Temperatures On Electric Water Heaters?

The procedure with electric water heaters is similar; the only difference is that they’re easier to work with. Once again, you need to turn off the water heater from a circuit breaker. Afterwards, find the thermostat access panel and remove it. With the help of a screwdriver, choose the setting you want. After this, put everything back into place, and you’re all set. Just wait a few hours to test the water.

Important Reminder

Although your water heater deals with the freshwater system of your house, it’s also important to take care of the opposing system—sewer lines—since they’re responsible for the hygiene of your home. Make sure to contact professionals for regular sewer line cleaning. If you’re seeing odd symptoms such as backups, bad odors, or clogs, you can also seek out help for sewer repair in Malibu. 

Valuable Services in Your Area

At Express Plumbing and Rooter, we aim to provide our customers with the service they deserve. The plumbing system is the backbone of a house, and it’s impossible to expect a safe and functional home without a healthy plumbing system. From water heater repair to trenchless sewer line installation, we offer a variety of commercial and residential services. Call us today to learn more and schedule your appointment.