Turn Water Heater Temp Down
Water heating is the second largest energy expense in your home at 15% or more of your utility bill. Take a few minutes to lower your water heater temperature setting and you can save both energy and money.
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
Most water heater manufacturers set their temperature to 140°F by default. However, 120°F is generally hot enough and safe for most residential uses. Water heated to 140°F not only wastes energy, but it also poses a serious scalding hazard. Lowering the temperature will also extend the life of your water heater by slowing corrosion and mineral buildup in your unit and pipes. Since water heaters consume 15% or more on average of your home’s energy bill, this is an easy way to save energy and money and can reduce both carbon emissions and air pollution.
1Stay safe
Health concerns. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that for smaller residential water heaters, a temperature setting of 120°F is safe for most people. However, if you have a family member that has a compromised immune system or chronic respiratory disease, you can skip this action and keep your water heater temperature at 140°F as an added precaution. If you keep your water heater at 140°F, consider installing temperature-regulating devices on any faucets used for washing or bathing to avoid scalding risks.
Check your dishwasher for a built-in heat booster. In order to clean and sterilize dishes effectively, dishwashers require a water temperature of 130-140°F. Most dishwasher models come with built-in heat boosters to raise the heat coming from your water heater and achieve this temperature. Before you lower your water heater temperature, check your dishwasher manual to make sure your model has a heat booster.
If you can’t find your manual, you can probably find it online if you search with your make and model number. If your dishwasher model doesn’t have a heat booster, then consider leaving the temperature at 140°F to ensure your dishes are sterilized properly.
2Turn your water heater down to 120°F
Turning down your water heater is easy. First, check your water heater manual for instructions on how to adjust the temperature on your model. Some water heater thermostats are not accurate. To be sure you have the correct temperature, you can test the temperature of your water with a thermometer. For step by step instructions, check out the Energy.gov guide.