Hot water tank too high?

**CristiK** · 12-11-2007, 11:30 AM

Ok....so I have been trying to cut back as much as I can and keep surfing the web for new ideas. This one sounds really good...is there something I am missing?
The idea is to lower the temp on your water heater until it is just hot enough that you ONLY turn on your hot water in the bath or shower. You do not combine hot and cold to get the right shower temp. The guy with this idea says that he only washes clothes in cold and that most dishwashers have a water temp booster anyway so there is no reason to keep a tank of ultra hot water that then has to have cold added to make it comfortable for bathing.
He says if people complain about the temp then 1st check to make sure they are not adding cold water and if they are not adjust up just until the complaints stop.
This sounds like a no brainer for saving on the gas bill to me. Am I missing something or is this as good as it sounds?

**StaceyS** · 12-11-2007, 11:42 AM

I don't know if it works, but I'm trying it. I just moved to a bigger home (was in a studio) and now have control over my waterheater. I live alone, so I don't have to "train" anyone else about the hot water. My heater has 4 notches on it and it was set to the hottest notch. The water in my kitchen sink was too hot to rinse dishes, so I turned it down a notch. After a few days, I turned it down again and now the temp seems just right.

**sdrjeolsen** · 12-11-2007, 03:56 PM

Seems like it should work, the only problem may be running out of hot water if more than one person takes a shower within a short period of time. We have ours set at just above that level. By the time I'm done with my shower, there isn't much hot water left. The kids shower at night, dh showers in the morning and I shower after everyone has left, so we seem to have enough hot water that way.....but barely. Try it and let us know

**monkeymia** · 12-11-2007, 05:23 PM

I might see if I can turn mine down, thanks for the tip.

**acidcookie** · 12-11-2007, 05:53 PM

I think 120 degrees is the temperature most frugal sources will say to keep it at. My water heater isn't in my apartment--I share with at least one other apartment I guess, which I suppose is actually more efficient because these are just studios with no dishwashers, no washers, just 2 faucets and a shower--so I can't change mine. I used my thermometer in a cup of the hottest water out of the faucet and it was 140 deg. It's way too hot! At least I don't pay for water or electricity here.

**CristiK** · 12-12-2007, 07:17 PM

Well, we tried it today and so far so good. I lowered it alot but our tank doesn't have numbers so I don't know just how much but I went from over HOT to the WARM section. We all added just a touch of cold still so I can lower it a little more. I hope this helps out our gas bill. Funny, I never actually looked forward to getting one of those before

**peanut** · 12-13-2007, 02:42 PM

We lowered our water heater from Hot to Warm when we moved in. The only thing is, you gotta keep it hot enough to kill any bacteria in the tank...at least that's what I've heard. As far as I'm concerned, if it's hot enough to scald me on it's own coming from the tank straight on Warm, then it's hot enough to kill any bacteria. And really, isn't that what soap is all about? Even on Warm we have to add cold water to make it bearable for doing dishes.

Jean

**redhead68** · 12-13-2007, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by peanut

We lowered our water heater from Hot to Warm when we moved in. The only thing is, you gotta keep it hot enough to kill any bacteria in the tank...at least that's what I've heard. As far as I'm concerned, if it's hot enough to scald me on it's own coming from the tank straight on Warm, then it's hot enough to kill any bacteria. And really, isn't that what soap is all about? Even on Warm we have to add cold water to make it bearable for doing dishes.

Jean

Soap definitely will sanitize the dishes, but what about the water that you drink or use to bathe? I had never thought about the issue of bacterial infection of a water tank until I researched it this morning. A tankless water heater might mitigate the risk, so I'm going to look into it when we purchase our next house.

**CristiK** · 12-13-2007, 08:15 PM

Ok....well that is something I didn't think of. Found info that water needs to be at 122 degrees to kill Legionaire's and other bacteria. I just tested mine with a candy thermometer and we were just slightly above 100 degrees so I will raise the temp a little at a time until I get to 122.

**grneyegrl** · 12-13-2007, 09:45 PM

we were told by psg that our tank was too hot and needed to be turned down.. i dont remember what the temp was but we lowered it.. i think it should be low as not to burn

**cottageliving** · 12-14-2007, 04:47 PM

I just went and turned my hot water tank down from Med to Low. When I had this new tank installed a few months back it was on High - scalding, so we turned it to Med. I'll see if the Low settings saves more. It should be 120+ degrees at Low since it's a new tank and is Energy Star. Can't imagine they'd put a setting that fell below the required 120. Hmmm -- maybe I'll test it tomorrow to be safe.

**cottageliving** · 12-14-2007, 04:51 PM

hit submit too soon

-- wanted to also say thanks for the tip!!

**EnergyBoomer** · 12-16-2007, 12:09 PM

Put a coffee mug in the sink. Put a candy thermometer in the mug. Turn on the hot water and let it run slow but steady straight hot water into the mug.

When the temperature stabilizes you know what the temperature is.

140 and up is too hot wasting energy.

Less than 120 is too cool. (doesn't kill all the bacteria)

I recommend 130 F to save money and to avoid dreaming about biological activity in the tank.

If you want all the details check this post.
http://energyboomer.typepad.com/ener..._savings_.html

**CristiK** · 12-17-2007, 03:01 PM

Thanks EnergyBoomer....I will check it out! I was beginning to wonder if my candy thermometer was broken because I kept raising the temp on the tank and it was barely doing anything to the thermometer so I will try the running water method....although don't tell anybody around here since we are in a drought

**CristiK** · 12-17-2007, 03:13 PM

Ok....by using the running water method, we were at 125 so I went downstairs and turned the tank up a tiny bit and will check it again later. I must say, running water DID make a huge difference in the candy thermometer. When I just filled the glass up with hot water and then tested, I could never get it to go over 105. Thanks again Energyboomer!