Water heaters are generally set at the factory at 140 degrees F. To save energy your water heater temperature should generally be set at 120 degrees F. This temperature will help prevent scalds and is still high enough to effectively kill typical household bacteria when washing clothes and washing dishes. If you have an older dishwasher that does not have an internal heating element, you may need to adjust the water heater temperature to 140 degrees F. If your water heater is set above 120 degrees F, you may want to consider installing scald guards or pressure balancers to prevent scalding. Seasonal temperature adjustments may also be needed during cold weather since the incoming water is colder.
In homes where heavily soiled items and diapers are washed, a household member is ill, or someone has a suppressed immune system, it may be necessary to use higher water temperatures for laundry, or to adjust the temperature for those occasions.
To adjust the water temperature on an electric heater, the thermostat (with a numbered dial) will be found behind one or two removable panels on the front of the appliance. The electric heater thermostat dial is adjusted using a small flat head screwdriver.
To adjust the water temperature on a gas heater, the thermostat is found on the gas regulator on the front of the heater. Instead of having a numbered dial, the gas heater thermostat dial may be labeled as "hot," "vacation" and "cold," which can easily be adjusted by hand.
