What is your water heater set at?

[HomeBrewerDude]

I have read that 120F is ideal, and other sites say 140F.


I think mine is set pretty high, and am wondering if 120 will still let me take a really hot shower.

 

[Warthog912]

I HAVE to take a HOT shower. No half-ass warm stuff. Otherwise, I have a bad day

 

[bunker]

120 and it's plenty hot.

It was at 130 until we had our first baby.

 

[308nato]

Mine resides at 135 degrees I believe. I live in a huge victorian house. My wife likes the water to still be hot when it gets to her top floor powder room.

If it was a ranch house or something, 120 would be plenty for me.

 

[morkinva]

I dunno, the setting is just below the half-way mark. If I measure it with a thermometer, how much will it vary between duty cycles?

 

[CraigRT]

Hm, I have no idea. my shower can melt human flesch so I imagine it's pretty hot.
(it's a relatively new water heater replaced just last year)

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

had a 250 electric/gas bill last month... :Q

installed a programmable thermostat last night....
tonight i will look at the water heater and put in some Compact Flourescent lightbulbs.

 

[apoppin]

On "hi" - 1/2 hour before my shower . . .

On "low" the other 23-1/2 hours . . .

 

[Farmall]

According to our electrical co-op anything over 125 F is a total waste of money. I have ours set at 125 and there is no way you could shower at that temp.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Farmall
According to our electrical co-op anything over 125 F is a total waste of money. I have ours set at 125 and there is no way you could shower at that temp.

Sure you can . . . air temperatures reach over 125F in the desert . . .

and 125F is the temperature at the hot water heater . . . unless your pipes are super-well-insulated . . . your shower temps are much less.

I'd much rather have 140+F mixed with cold water with my "hot" shower . . . immediately after the shower . . . it gets turned down to "Low" (110F, I think).

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Farmall
According to our electrical co-op anything over 125 F is a total waste of money. I have ours set at 125 and there is no way you could shower at that temp.

Sure you can . . . air temperatures reach over 125F in the desert . . .

and 125F is the temperature at the hot water heater . . . unless your pipes are super-well-insulated . . . your shower temps are much less.

I'd much rather have 140+F mixed with cold water with my "hot" shower . . . immediately after the shower . . . it gets turned down to "Low" (110F, I think).

What's a "hot water heater"?

 

[morkinva]

Actually I voted wrongly ~ the temp at the tap was 112, but who knows what its set at. There are no markings on my Bradford-White (unless its time for a prescription change)

 

[Farmall]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Farmall
According to our electrical co-op anything over 125 F is a total waste of money. I have ours set at 125 and there is no way you could shower at that temp.

Sure you can . . . air temperatures reach over 125F in the desert . . .

and 125F is the temperature at the hot water heater . . . unless your pipes are super-well-insulated . . . your shower temps are much less.

I'd much rather have 140+F mixed with cold water with my "hot" shower . . . immediately after the shower . . . it gets turned down to "Low" (110F, I think).

I just went and checked the temp at the kitchen faucet it is the farthest location away from the water heater and the temp went to 120 F, and no I don't have insulated water pipes. I state again there is little chance anybody could shower at the reduced temp of 120 F.

Sorry but there is a big difference between air temp and water temp. In a sauna the air temp can reach near 200 F, there is not much chance that anybody would be able to handle that kind of temp with water.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Yield
Hm, I have no idea. my shower can melt human flesch so I imagine it's pretty hot.
(it's a relatively new water heater replaced just last year)

Wow that's clean

 

[Tripleshot]

You will get scalded in my shower without a cold water blend. 140. gas heater

 

[FoBoT]

if you have small kids and it is set above 120F , you are asking for trouble

 

[Pepsei]

this is what you want.

It runs on gas, and is only on when you're using it. so it saves on energy costs. And you can set it to any temp. you want with a pad that is located in your bathroom.

 

[Alphazero]

On.

(It's not the most sophisticated model...)

 

[morkinva]

Wow - I just measured it after it stopped its heating cycle and it was 150. Seems like quite a spread from 112 to 150 :Q

 

[Electric Amish]

Plaid.

amish

 

[Ime]

How do I adjust my hot water heater? I think it's set for like 90 degress. :/

 

[Kalvin00]

The reason 130+ water will kill you is because water has a more drastic effect on the body. Ever went in a 65 degree pool? It's cold, isn't it? Ever been outside on a 65 degree day? It's pretty warm, isn't it?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
The reason 130+ water will kill you is because water has a more drastic effect on the body. Ever went in a 65 degree pool? It's cold, isn't it? Ever been outside on a 65 degree day? It's pretty warm, isn't it?

Exactly.

Water conducts and transfers heat much better than air. You all should know that. I thought this was a computer forum? Shame on you.

Anything over 120 is just a waste of energy.. Not to mention dangerous for children.

 

[apoppin]

Yeah, 125F is a little warm for a shower - even for the Japanese that like their tub baths 104-108F (and hotter).

However, my point was - if you have a small hot water heater - say 30 gallons - and the top is only 125F (not the entire tank is 125 as the bottom is cold) . . . you're going to be cutting it close if you like a long shower (and forget it for anyone behind you for awhile).

Keeping the water at 140+F gives (obviously) a bigger resevoir of hot water - I like this option and turn down the thermostat after my shower until the next morning.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Somewhere around 160-180...the sun isn't quite as hot this time of the year.