Turn down hot water heater to 120 degrees, by Lynn Stone aka Smiling Green Mom

Have you ever thought about your home’s water temperature? I mean REALLY thought…. aside of “there better be enough hot water for my bath and my glass of red wine to sit in tonight”?

Well, truth be told, I had not either! I mean, my husband did — he always takes care of the temperature of this and that, setting thermostats, adjusting the furnace and all that “man-stuff” like taking out the trash. I am totally not labeling jobs as “sex-specific” but this is just the way it works out for our family! (Note To Self: add “rub wife’s feet” to hubby’s man-job list.)

Okay so now I feel a bit ashamed that I had not thought of this – so to make up for it, I am going to make sure I get the word out via Practically Green! As with everything in the world of green living, I fully support the “do your best, small steps matter” theory and recognize this as just another step in a greener direction! *glass is half full.*

So yes, water temperature DOES matter and not only does it protect your small children by safe-guarding their bathtime from burns or scalding of TOO hot of water…it’s eco-smart too! By lowering your water temperature by just 10 degrees, you can save in your energy costs by 3% – 5% as well. By reducing your thermostat below 120 degrees, you will have less corrosion and mineral buildup in your pipes and inside the water  heater itself – helping to maximize efficiency and extend the life of your water heater!

Image Credit: http://www.sundropjewelry.com/growinghome/

We can think of no better directions on How to Adjust your Hot-Water Heater than these, which you’ll find on Practically Green:

In order to turn down the water temperature on your hot-water heater, you must first locate the water heater in your house. The water heater is usually a large, white storage tank with a couple of main pipes sticking out of it. The pipes lead to a furnace or boiler and to your home’s water distribution (piping) system. Look for a temperature-control knob along the side of the water heater.

In most cases, the control will allow you to switch the setting to ‘warm’ or something similar, rather than to another temperature. Do this and you should be all set. To test if this action actually brought the water temperature down to 120 degrees, you can run the hot water at a faucet that is furthest from the water heater in your house and take the water temperature with a thermometer.

According to energysavers.com,

“Consult your water heater owner’s manual for instructions on how to operate the thermostat. You can find a thermostat dial for a gas storage water heater near the bottom of the tank on the gas valve. Electric water heaters, on the other hand, may have thermostats positioned behind screw-on plates or panels. As a safety precaution, shut off the electricity to the water heater before removing/opening the panels. Keep in mind that an electric water heater may have two thermostats—one each for the upper and lower heating elements.

Mark the beginning temperature and the adjusted temperature on the thermostat dial for future reference. After turning it down, check the water temperature with a thermometer at the tap farthest from the water heater. Thermostat dials are often inaccurate. Several adjustments may be necessary before you get the right temperature.”

Photo: http://damonique.blogspot.com

Back to Lynn:

So you see — it really is an issue for all of us to keep in mind. There are several excellent reasons and benefits with reducing your household water temperature to below 120 degrees…and another good one? Well, with all the money you will be saving each year — you can buy yourself a stellar bottle of red along with a few extra bars of non-toxic, organic soaps to soak with! I love it when green means extra pampering, aaaah!

Author Note:

Lynn Stone blogs at smilinggreenmom.com. Follow her on Twitter @ smilinggreenmom and join her on Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Smiling-Green-Mom/.