Hi All,

I live in a small home with one other person. We shower once maybe twice a
day. my hot water is set at 140 degrees, but I lowered it to around 130 as
I feel it is too hot and wasting money. Am i right in turning it down some
or should I leave it at the original setting of 140.

What is the norm? I believe it is a 40 galon tank.

Doobielicious wrote:
Hi All,

I live in a small home with one other person. We shower once maybe
twice a day. my hot water is set at 140 degrees, but I lowered it to
around 130 as I feel it is too hot and wasting money. Am i right in
turning it down some or should I leave it at the original setting of
140.

What is the norm? I believe it is a 40 galon tank.

You will save money and the water heater will usually last longer the
lower you set the temperature. The only downside is under a high demand, it
may not be able to keep up. Experience will tell. Also note that some
dishwashers and maybe laundry done with hot water may also suffer at the
lower temperature.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Greetings,

If you are interested in saving the most money turn the water heater down to
the temperature you like to take your shower at. When you step in you should
only have to turn the hot knob. If you don't run out of water the water
heater is at the right temperature. If you do run out of water increase the
water temperature until you are not in danger of running out.

Hope this helps,

William

PS: Some people need hot water for reasons other than showing. If so your
water temperature must be at least hot enough to accomplish these other
tasks.

"Doobielicious" wrote in message
news:3kzLd.90970$Ob.5060@edtnps84...
Hi All,

I live in a small home with one other person. We shower once maybe twice
a
day. my hot water is set at 140 degrees, but I lowered it to around 130
as
I feel it is too hot and wasting money. Am i right in turning it down
some
or should I leave it at the original setting of 140.

What is the norm? I believe it is a 40 galon tank.

How hot should it be if I also have a brand new dishwasher?


"William Deans" wrote in message
news:1107215640.743cd1234187f8fa7b8fd33c6d8631ca@t eranews...
Greetings,

If you are interested in saving the most money turn the water heater down
to
the temperature you like to take your shower at. When you step in you
should
only have to turn the hot knob. If you don't run out of water the water
heater is at the right temperature. If you do run out of water increase
the
water temperature until you are not in danger of running out.

Hope this helps,

William

PS: Some people need hot water for reasons other than showing. If so your
water temperature must be at least hot enough to accomplish these other
tasks.

"Doobielicious" wrote in message
news:3kzLd.90970$Ob.5060@edtnps84...
Hi All,

I live in a small home with one other person. We shower once maybe
twice
a
day. my hot water is set at 140 degrees, but I lowered it to around 130
as
I feel it is too hot and wasting money. Am i right in turning it down
some
or should I leave it at the original setting of 140.

What is the norm? I believe it is a 40 galon tank.

If you have an automatic dishwasher , it will require 130 f for dishes
to come out reasonably clean. For showering, most people only require
110-115 f . Manufacturers of Electric water heaters used to set them
at 140 f from the factory...but, they obviously got too many Law Suits
from tender skin being burned. Now, there is usually a warning label on
the outside that says 'anything over 125 f. can cause severe burns' ,
thus, they are coming preset at 125 f from the factory. IF you lower
the water temp to 125 f. , that should be plenty ....but youll have to
allow some recovery time between showers/baths/laundry..as electric
water heaters are slow recovery units (versus gas ones).

Most dishwashers heat up water themselves, well mine does. I set water
temp for a hot water use only shower, apx 105. Turn it down then up if
you need to. For me electricity costs 3 times the price of Gas.

Dave at the shower head out put 115 is to hot. I DARE you to take a
115F shower... A hot shower is 104-107 I can not stand 108. But maybe
you dont heat your house so 115 is helping you.

Doobielicious wrote:
How hot should it be if I also have a brand new dishwasher?


Chances are that NEW dishwasher (anything in the last 10 years) should
have a built in heater to bring the water up to the 140º F.



"William Deans" wrote in message
news:1107215640.743cd1234187f8fa7b8fd33c6d8631ca@t eranews...
Greetings,

If you are interested in saving the most money turn the water heater
down to the temperature you like to take your shower at. When you
step in you should only have to turn the hot knob. If you don't run
out of water the water heater is at the right temperature. If you do
run out of water increase the water temperature until you are not in
danger of running out.

Hope this helps,

William

PS: Some people need hot water for reasons other than showing. If so
your water temperature must be at least hot enough to accomplish
these other tasks.

"Doobielicious" wrote in message
news:3kzLd.90970$Ob.5060@edtnps84...
Hi All,

I live in a small home with one other person. We shower once maybe
twice a day. my hot water is set at 140 degrees, but I lowered it
to around 130 as I feel it is too hot and wasting money. Am i
right in turning it down some or should I leave it at the original
setting of 140.

What is the norm? I believe it is a 40 galon tank.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Any new water heater you buy today is factory set at 125 deg

Bob P

"Doobielicious" wrote in message
news:3kzLd.90970$Ob.5060@edtnps84...
Hi All,

I live in a small home with one other person. We shower once maybe twice
a
day. my hot water is set at 140 degrees, but I lowered it to around 130
as
I feel it is too hot and wasting money. Am i right in turning it down
some
or should I leave it at the original setting of 140.

What is the norm? I believe it is a 40 galon tank.

Thanks Bob!!


"Bob Pietrangelo" wrote in message
...
Any new water heater you buy today is factory set at 125 deg

Bob P

"Doobielicious" wrote in message
news:3kzLd.90970$Ob.5060@edtnps84...
Hi All,

I live in a small home with one other person. We shower once maybe
twice
a
day. my hot water is set at 140 degrees, but I lowered it to around 130
as
I feel it is too hot and wasting money. Am i right in turning it down
some
or should I leave it at the original setting of 140.

What is the norm? I believe it is a 40 galon tank.

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 23:38:39 GMT, "Doobielicious"
wrote:

Hi All,

I live in a small home with one other person. We shower once maybe twice a
day. my hot water is set at 140 degrees, but I lowered it to around 130 as
I feel it is too hot and wasting money. Am i right in turning it down some
or should I leave it at the original setting of 140.

What is the norm? I believe it is a 40 galon tank.



Anything above 120 F is good. Below that and you risk pathogen
growth. I keep mine at 125--saves energy and the tank will last a
little longer.

'Dave at the shower head out put 115 is to hot. I DARE you to take a
115F shower... A hot shower is 104-107 I can not stand 108. But maybe
you dont heat your house so 115 is helping you.'

Rans, Im aware that 100-105 f shower water is ideal, but, i suggested
going a bit higher on the Tank temp. so the person can finish the shower
without running out of hot water if its only a 40 gal . Yes, i heat my
house here in Northern Illinois and that comment of yours was not
required or efficacous -- shall we be friends ?

Dave you pos uneducated fundy hvac HACK!!

No one wants to be you friend, unless you mean in that in a Michael
Jackson way

Greetings,

Why doesn't it occur in cold water systems? Is this only a problem if you
are not on a chlorinated water system? Could you provide a link to more
information about this risk of pathogen growth?

Thank you for your time and energy,
William

PS: Doobielicious, to the best of my knowledge I have never had any issue
with pathogen growth in city water of any temperature.


Just to be sure we are all on the same track
=================================
pathogen
n : any ***disease-producing*** agent (especially a virus or
bacterium
or other microorganism)

(if it doesn't cause disease it isn't a pathogen)


"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 23:38:39 GMT, "Doobielicious"
wrote:

Hi All,

I live in a small home with one other person. We shower once maybe twice
a
day. my hot water is set at 140 degrees, but I lowered it to around 130
as
I feel it is too hot and wasting money. Am i right in turning it down
some
or should I leave it at the original setting of 140.

What is the norm? I believe it is a 40 galon tank.



Anything above 120 F is good. Below that and you risk pathogen
growth. I keep mine at 125--saves energy and the tank will last a
little longer.

In article ,
m Ransley wrote:
Dave at the shower head out put 115 is to hot. I DARE you to take a
115F shower... A hot shower is 104-107 I can not stand 108. But maybe
you dont heat your house so 115 is helping you.


HA HA HA HA HA!


--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland

William Deans wrote:
Greetings,

Why doesn't it occur in cold water systems? Is this only a problem
if you
are not on a chlorinated water system? Could you provide a link to
more
information about this risk of pathogen growth?

Thank you for your time and energy,
William

PS: Doobielicious, to the best of my knowledge I have never had any
issue
with pathogen growth in city water of any temperature.


Just to be sure we are all on the same track
=================================
pathogen
n : any ***disease-producing*** agent (especially a virus or
bacterium
or other microorganism)

(if it doesn't cause disease it isn't a pathogen)

I'm not the one who brought it up, but we are talking about real
pathogens here, as in Legionnaire's disease.

A starting point would be http://www.cashacme.com/watertemp.html.
That's a vendor of thermostatic valves (with whom I have no
connection), but they have links to news and other sources.

Or Google for "domestic hot water" and "Legionnaire's disease."

It looks like an emerging recommendation is to keep your WH at 140F and
have mixing valves to bring it down to 120 or 115 or so, either as it
emerges from the WH or at points of use.

Chip C

Greetings,

Since you must set the water tank temp at 145+ to prevent Legionella I think
I'll instead keep my home tank set to the temperature I like to take a
shower (using only the hot water knob.) I am sure if I set all my hot water
tanks at 145+ I would surely end up in court considering some would be as
hot as 150.

The original posting spoke of a pathogen that required 120 degree water to
kill. Is there a real risk of such a pathogen? Does the pathogen mentioned
in the posting exist?

Hope this helps,
William

PS: Chip, thank you very much for the informative link. I even forwarded
on the article to a few of my friends.

"Chip C" wrote in message
oups.com...
William Deans wrote:
Greetings,

Why doesn't it occur in cold water systems? Is this only a problem
if you
are not on a chlorinated water system? Could you provide a link to
more
information about this risk of pathogen growth?

Thank you for your time and energy,
William

PS: Doobielicious, to the best of my knowledge I have never had any
issue
with pathogen growth in city water of any temperature.


Just to be sure we are all on the same track
=================================
pathogen
n : any ***disease-producing*** agent (especially a virus or
bacterium
or other microorganism)

(if it doesn't cause disease it isn't a pathogen)

I'm not the one who brought it up, but we are talking about real
pathogens here, as in Legionnaire's disease.

A starting point would be http://www.cashacme.com/watertemp.html.
That's a vendor of thermostatic valves (with whom I have no
connection), but they have links to news and other sources.

Or Google for "domestic hot water" and "Legionnaire's disease."

It looks like an emerging recommendation is to keep your WH at 140F and
have mixing valves to bring it down to 120 or 115 or so, either as it
emerges from the WH or at points of use.

Chip C

Legonella in a hot water heater, Never heard of that. Legonella needs
air to survive.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math
"William Deans" wrote in message
news:1107325235.d5572b6cf892dd1c584355d3fbe73e56@t eranews...
Greetings,

Since you must set the water tank temp at 145+ to prevent Legionella I
think
I'll instead keep my home tank set to the temperature I like to take a
shower (using only the hot water knob.) I am sure if I set all my hot
water
tanks at 145+ I would surely end up in court considering some would be as
hot as 150.

The original posting spoke of a pathogen that required 120 degree water to
kill. Is there a real risk of such a pathogen? Does the pathogen
mentioned
in the posting exist?

Yes they do. It is a good idea to keep it at 120 or higher. It would be
a little unusual to experience problems as long as there is a fair amount of
water usage, but after a two week vacation at 100º you could well experience
problems.


Hope this helps,
William

PS: Chip, thank you very much for the informative link. I even forwarded
on the article to a few of my friends.

"Chip C" wrote in message
oups.com...
William Deans wrote:
Greetings,

Why doesn't it occur in cold water systems? Is this only a problem
if you
are not on a chlorinated water system? Could you provide a link to
more
information about this risk of pathogen growth?

Thank you for your time and energy,
William

PS: Doobielicious, to the best of my knowledge I have never had any
issue
with pathogen growth in city water of any temperature.


Just to be sure we are all on the same track
=================================
pathogen
n : any ***disease-producing*** agent (especially a virus or
bacterium
or other microorganism)

(if it doesn't cause disease it isn't a pathogen)

I'm not the one who brought it up, but we are talking about real
pathogens here, as in Legionnaire's disease.

A starting point would be http://www.cashacme.com/watertemp.html.
That's a vendor of thermostatic valves (with whom I have no
connection), but they have links to news and other sources.

Or Google for "domestic hot water" and "Legionnaire's disease."

It looks like an emerging recommendation is to keep your WH at 140F and
have mixing valves to bring it down to 120 or 115 or so, either as it
emerges from the WH or at points of use.

Chip C

Joe M if he may experiance problems than what about roof and city
water storage tanks holding thousands of gallons. This is common
throughout the world. Then you must include piping. Or is it different.

m Ransley wrote:
Joe M if he may experiance problems than what about roof and city
water storage tanks holding thousands of gallons. This is common
throughout the world. Then you must include piping. Or is it
different.

Yes that is different and commercial users have different problems.
They get more complex.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math