What temperature should my electric hot water heater be set at?
120 degrees Fahrenheit
120 degrees Fahrenheit is the safety recommendation against scalding, but 140° is the common default setting. Most experts agree that anything below 120 degrees creates a risk for bacteria to develop inside your water heater from stagnant water, such as legionella that causes Legionnaire’s disease.
Can you adjust the temperature on an electric hot water heater?
Access the Thermostat For safety reasons, shut off the electricity to your water heater before making any adjustments. Electric water heaters often have two heating elements and two thermostats, so you’ll need to access and adjust both. Set the thermostats to the same temperature for the best results.
What is the maximum temperature for an electric hot water heater?
A new water heater is typically preset to a maximum temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Some say that’s the ideal temperature, while others argue that it’s better to reduce the maximum temperature to 120.
What temperature should I set my hot water heater ABC?
Know the Ideal Setting: The best setting for gas water heaters is around 115 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Oftentimes, water heaters will have additional options to either lower or increase the temperature of the water inside. In the case of the video’s water heater, A, B and C each have an increase of about 10 degrees.
Is 120 degree water hot enough to kill bacteria?
A study by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering showed that the bacteria cease to multiply when water temperature reaches 120 degrees. They are not destroyed at that temperature, however, and can survive to be conveyed to an outlet such as a shower head or faucet.
At what temperature does water sanitize?
Water temperature must be at least 180°F, but not greater than 200°F. At temperatures greater than 200°F, water vaporizes into steam before sanitization can occur. It is important to note that the surface temperature of the object being sanitized must be at 160°F for a long enough time to kill the bacteria.