There’s nothing more comfortable than a refreshing hot shower after a long day of work or a good workout at the gym. Sometimes, people tend to be a little bit too enthusiastic about the heat of their water and overdo the temperature settings. As a result, they turn their comfortable and pleasurable hot showers into showers of pain for a few seconds. In worst cases, people suffer from burns due to the scalding hot water from the shower. So, to avoid this nightmare, you need to know how to set your water temperature right.
How do you know what the best temperature for your water heater is?
A balance between safety and comfort
Water heaters come with a default setting, and individuals often adjust it according to their preferences. If you have a storage hot water system, the ideal temperature should be between 60–65°C to kill the bacteria that thrive in hot water. Heat loss will then occur as it passes through the different valves before making its way into the shower outlet. The temperature from the shower should be around a tolerable level of 50°C or slightly lower. However, different people have different tolerances for heat, and some can tolerate temperatures in excess of 50°C. Still, keep in mind that anything about 60°C can cause third degree burns in less than 6 seconds regardless of heat tolerance.
Finding the best temperature for your water heater
A lot of people are concerned over the fact that some water heater thermostat dials might be inaccurate, especially those models with no numbers on the notches. To make sure your water is not hot enough to scald you but hot enough to give you a relaxing bath or shower, you need to not depend totally on those dial markings .
If you want to find the best temperature on an unnumbered dial, use a thermometer to check the temperature of the water at various settings. Go to the tap or water source closest to the water heater and let it run for at least three minutes. Fill a glass or bowl with water from said source or tap and check the temperature with the thermometer. If it’s over 50 degrees, adjust the dial and wait for at least three hours before you can check again. Perform these steps over and over again until you reach that sweet 50-degree spot. When you do find that best temperature for your water heater, put a mark on the notch with permanent marker so you won’t have to repeat the above steps for some time.
Once you get that best temperature for your water heater, you’ll be keeping yourself and your family safe from accidental scalding, and you’ll save money on your electric bills at the same time.
