What is the Recommended Water Heater Temperature in the summer months?

Did you know 42% of the population leaves their water heater set too high? Most water heaters will come pre-programmed to rest at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and many homeowners will not give this temperature a second thought. They leave this temperature set as they install the heater and carry on using it to heat water for their showers, dishwashers and washing machines. The problem is that while this is a decent catch-all temperature setting, it’s also more heat than you need during the summer. As a result, this temperature leads to wasted energy.

To achieve the best temperature, you’ll need to vary the water heater temperature dial to reflect the changing seasons. Going too low creates the risk of bacteria growing in your pipes or water heater, but going too high leads to the danger of burning. To avoid either extreme, you’ll want to find a happy medium. We recommend always keeping the heater set between 110 and 120 degrees.

In the summer, try setting your water heater temperature at the low end of this scale, placing it close to or at 110 degrees. In the winter, lean toward the high end of the range. During this season, 120 is a much more acceptable temperature.

This difference of only 10 degrees or less may not seem like much of a difference, but it can be all you need to save up to 5% in energy spending. You’ll notice the difference in the shower, too, with the water temperature feeling far more comfortable and natural.