Tankless Water Heater Temperature Setting 2022 – Important Things To Consider

Do you like cold or scorching hot showers? Possibly you like lukewarm water? Many homeowners may not often deliberate about their tankless water heater, but it plays a significant role in your residence’s plumbing. 

An ill-functioning water heating system could be the biggest cause of hefty electricity and water bills. Thus, it is critical to schedule annual repair and maintenance of your unit to ensure hard water is not damaging it and it is set to the best temperature range. 

Tankless water heater temperature setting may seem a personal choice, but there are various things to consider. You should be aware of all the safety reasons along with health concerns. And there is the issue of saving money on water and electricity bills. 

You should also try to minimize your influence on the environment. Today, we can’t afford to waste our precious planet’s resources such as energy and water. 

We must recognize that having ingress to these valuable things means we should be thankful. Half of the world does not have access to clean water, so we should behave sensibly.   

Tankless Water Heater Temperature Setting – Things To Consider

Safety And Health Concerns

When you purchase a water heating appliance and deploy it on your property, the temperature is preset to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you take a bath streaming only the warm water at this temp, you will get scorched. 

Toddlers and older people are at a high risk of getting serious burns. Kids have delicate skin and older people’s reflexes may take a long time in comprehending the water is too warm. 

So, you might be wondering why the tankless water heater temperature control is set too high. There are two reasons behind it:

Bacterial Accumulation Prevention

Bacteria gather in warm, standing water, but sometimes it builds up in cold water too. However, it mostly grows in water that has a temperature of 41 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The 140 degrees Fahrenheit temperature setting is slightly higher than the risk zone limit. Therefore, manufacturers set it to prevent bacterial growth. 

Though, some experts agree that 120 degrees Fahrenheit is safe for the majority of individuals. But, folks with a weak immune system and chronic breathing problems are excluded from this. 

The modern units come with pre-set water temperature and they also feature an anti-scaling system that supplies water to the tap at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In electric tankless water heaters, legionella bacteria builds up at the machine’s bottom and could become a cause of a type of pneumonia. It is transferred by inhaling polluted water droplets while taking a bath or shower.  

Marketing Perks

When the brands sell you a tankless gas water heater, their primary priority is client satisfaction. They are not concerned about your electricity bills and water consumption. 

They want you to feel satisfied when you activate the water fixture and acquire perfectly warm water. If you obtain lukewarm water, the majority of you will contemplate that the device is incapable of heating water and your hard-earned money has been wasted. 

To get hot water, you just have to make tankless water heater temperature adjustment. The water temperature has nothing to do with the heater’s overall quality and lifespan. But it has an immense effect on sales psychology. 

Therefore, you should not give too much importance to the unit’s temperature because it is just a matter of adjustment. Nonetheless, buying a high-quality heater will be beneficial for you in the long-term.

Energy Savings

As we stated earlier, the ideal hot water heater temperature for the majority of the propane water heaters is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the department of energy United States endorses a setting of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 

You can also decrease it according to your specific needs and preferences. If you are going out for some days, it is better to set it at 120 degrees F otherwise bacteria will develop inside the unit.

Frequent Hot Showers

If you have a big family that takes back-to-back showers, the 20 degrees temperature variance can have a massive influence on the hot water levels. 

If frequent hot showers occur in your house, 120 degrees F tankless water heater temperature setting is optimal for you.

Dishwasher Performance

Are you having an old-fashioned dishwasher? Many older models are not equipped with an advanced heater, so they can’t wash the utensils perfectly with a tankless water heater temp adjustment of less than 140 degrees F.

Kids And Elders In The House

Houses with young children and elders should set a temperature of 120 degrees F to avoid the risks of burning or scalding at the water fixture.

How To Set The Best Temperature For Tankless Water Heater?

There are five different kinds of water heating systems obtainable in the stores. 

Whether you have a traditional tank-style or tankless unit, we are going to share detailed information on how to set its temperature for saving money on energy bills. 

You will also learn about how to adjust temperature on Rinnai tankless water heater. So let’s dig in.  

Solar-Powered Heaters

These appliances rely on the power of the sun and need solar panels positioned on the roof. They work well on bright sunny days, but in the stormy weather, you will need a back-up unit. 

If we talk about their energy-efficiency, they are fantastic. However, before deploying them in your house, you will have to get approval from the Government. 

Besides, it is extremely expensive and it will take a long duration to see a return on your investment. They boast a control panel, so you can conveniently alter the temperature according to your needs.  

Tankless Water Heaters

As the name suggests, they don’t have a container. They are reliant on super-heated coils that heat water promptly whenever you want it. 

They are available in various sizes so that you can pick anyone depending on your water needs. The tankless gas water heaters work better than the electric ones. 

The electric ones will undoubtedly enhance your power expenditures. Now, let’s understand how to set the temperature of both gas and electric heaters.

Temperature Setting Of Tankless Gas Water Heater

They usually have a setting knob or handle that can be rotated to adjust the preferred temperature. The tankless water heater temp control valves have a knob with different labels such as a, b, and c on them. Water heaters of the different brands have different labels. Here is the meaning of each label:

Some machines also have a “vacation” mode that does not warm the water but keeps the pilot light kindled.

Electric Tankless Water Heater Temperature 

Switch off the circuit breaker and confiscate the access panels. Look for the thermostat tankless water heater temperature adjustment under the insulation. 

Set the thermostat control towards the preferred temperature using the flat screwdriver. Change the access panels and insulation and then, switch on the electricity.   

Heat Pump Water Heaters

These appliances utilize heat in the wind and earth to increase the water temperature. They use electricity only to transfer the warmth and not to produce it. 

Moreover, it has a boiler that needs to be washed frequently. These devices can help you save up to 60% on your power bills. 

However, they are very costly and also need a lot of space for deployment. Its pump on the crown needs approximately 8 feet of vertical space.

Condensing Heaters

These water heaters use exhaust gas to warm the water. If gas supply is available in your area or house, then this unit would be the perfect choice for you. 

It has a bigger tank, so it is an outstanding option for mighty families. To set its temperature, you can use its control panel.

Tank-Storage Water Heaters

These conventional water devices have the capability to heat a huge volume of water. The water stays warm in the tank for a long time because it is insulated. 

If you require extra warm water than the boiler’s capacity, you will have to wait for up to an hour or more for it to fill-up again. 

They are inexpensive and most commonly used in residential and commercial settings. Their only downside is that they consume a lot of energy. 

Thus, to reduce the energy bills, you can install a timer that will turn off the heater when the water touches the ideal temperature. 

To regulate its temperature, first of all, you need to grab a straight screwdriver. Then, switch off the heater and eliminate the top and bottom covers. Adjust the thermostat with the help of the screwdriver. Replace covers and restore the power.

How To Improve The Efficiency And Performance Of The Tankless Water Heater?

Install Water Heater Controller Kit

These days, water heater controller kits are easily available on the market. So, you can buy and install it to control your unit’s temperature with your cell phone or tablet with a stable internet connection. 

With this kit, you can control your device from any corner of the world. Also, you can turn it off to save power and turn it on before returning home.

Insulate Traditional Tank-Style Machines

If you have a tanked water heater, you must think about insulating it to keep the water hot for a long time. This is an affordable and useful approach to prevent standby heat loss.

Replace Out-Dated Models

If your appliance is older or you are frequently taking shower with cold water, odds are your heater is inefficient. The installation of a new device could guarantee a more comfortable and stress-free beginning of your day. 

By using the modern hybrid and tankless units, you can save a substantial amount on bills because they are highly energy-smart.

Descale It

Hard water can decrease the efficiency of your system. Mineral growth within the container affects its performance and lifespan. The accumulation boosts with high temperature. 

That’s why; lower the temperature and descale your boiler using the best tankless water heater flush kit every three months. You can also schedule professional repair and maintenance services for long-ignored units.  

Decrease The Water Flow

To lower the warm water usage, you can switch from old-fashioned showerheads and fixtures to versions that use less water flow.

Conclusion:

Now, after reading this thorough guide, you are well aware that in an ideal situation, the best tankless water heater temperature setting is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 

This setting allows you to save electricity and reduce the hazards of burns and other health problems. The best thing is that it kills bacteria, so you and your loved ones will stay safe and healthy. 

There are different sorts of water heating systems available out there. The latest ones have a knob so that you can easily fine-tune the temperature according to your personal preferences. 

You can also install a control kit to regulate its operation and temperature using your internet-connected mobile phone.