Adjusting the temperature on your water heater is important. Proper water heater temperature is about more than the perfect temperature for your shower every morning. Proper water temperature is a safety issue for you and your family.
My recommendation for the proper water temperature is 120 – 125 degrees, but there are several factors that you should consider. See my post about choosing the proper water temperature for your home.
Adjusting the water temperature on a water heater is very simple. It only takes a couple of minutes, and could prevent someone in your home from a painful burn or from being sickened by bacteria in the water.
How to Adjust the Water Temperature on a Gas Water Heater
There are many brands of water heaters, but the process of adjusting the temperature is essentially the same on most gas water heaters.
Near the bottom of the water heater, there is a gas valve. On that valve, you will find a small knob-like those pictured below. To adjust the temperature, you simply need to turn the knob. Turn it clockwise to lower the temperature, or turn it counter-clockwise to raise the temperature.
What Do the Letters on a Water Heater Thermostat Indicate?
You will notice in these photos that the actual temperatures are not shown, but instead, they use letters to indicate the temperatures.
While it may vary slightly from one manufacturer to another, in general here is what each letter indicates.
|
Letter/Symbol |
Meaning |
| “Low” or “Warm” | 80° – 90° F |
| “Hot” or triangle (upper photo) | 120° F |
| A | 130° F |
| B | 140° F |
| C | 150° F |
| Very hot | 160° F |
There also may be a “VAC” or vacation mode. This is essentially the same thing as “Pilot” mode. In this mode, the pilot simply stays lit, but the burner does not come on heat the water.
How to Adjust the Water Temperature on an Electric Water Heater
Adjusting the temperature on an electric water heater takes a little more time, but you should be able to do this in about five minutes.
1. Locate the thermostat covers (circled in yellow) on the water heater.
2. Remove the screw holding the cover with a Philips screw driver and remove the cover.
3. Locate the thermostat adjustment.
4. Use a flathead screwdriver to turn the thermostat to the desired temperature.
5. Replace the cover.
After you adjust the temperature on a water heater, keep in mind that you will have to give it some time before you will notice the change. If you lowered the temperature setting, running some hot water through a faucet for a few minutes can help it reach the desired temperature more quickly.
Once it has had some time to reach the new temperature, you can use a thermometer to check the actual temperature and see if it is where you want it. If not, go through the procedure above and adjust it a little more.
How to Adjust the Water Temperature on a Tankless Water Heater
Adjusting the temperature on a tankless water heater is a lot like adjusting the thermostat for your furnace or air conditioner. Use the digital control to adjust the temperature up or down as desired.
© 2021 Mike Morgan
This article was written by Mike Morgan, the owner of Morgan Inspection Services. Morgan Inspection Services has been providing home, septic and well inspection services throughout the central Texas area since 2002. He can be reached at 325-998-4663 or at mike@morganinspectionservices.com. No article, or portion thereof, may be reproduced or copied without prior written consent of Mike Morgan.
