How hot is the hot water in your home?
- Thread starter LVSteve
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I too have a Rinnai, set at 120⁰. Provides all the continuous hot need. Electric dishwasher heats water to 150⁰ for additional protection aginst bacteria.
I have my AO Smith tankless heater set at 135.
I have not checked the actual temperature at a faucet, but it's hot.
I have not checked the actual temperature at a faucet, but it's hot.
I keep mine set low enough that I don't need any cold water mixed in when I shower. Keeps the bills down. I live solo so get no argument from anybody about water temp. Wouldn't be worth throwing (a spouse) to save a few bucks of heating bills it I were in that position, I guess.
Doug M.
Member
The real risks of high temps come with kids and the elderly. Your circumstances will dictate the analysis leading to a reasonable answer. As you can tell, there are a lot of variables to consider.
I prosecuted a case about 12 years ago in which a "Dad" bathed a young boy in water far too hot. The background of the pathological relationship of the parents was the main issue, but Dad held the screaming kid in the far too hot water until he had terrible burns. That is likely similar to the comment about webbed feet. I can still remember the sentencing hearing - the inmates in the court room waiting for their cases heard the facts and were giving the offender really hateful glares. I suspect they imposed some street justice.
I prosecuted a case about 12 years ago in which a "Dad" bathed a young boy in water far too hot. The background of the pathological relationship of the parents was the main issue, but Dad held the screaming kid in the far too hot water until he had terrible burns. That is likely similar to the comment about webbed feet. I can still remember the sentencing hearing - the inmates in the court room waiting for their cases heard the facts and were giving the offender really hateful glares. I suspect they imposed some street justice.
Mine is set to whatever the dishwasher says is needed to sanitize the dishes. Memory tells me it is 140
I have a temperature sensor mounted and insulated on the outlet of my water heater and I get 133 degrees there. Plenty warm enough for my needs. As far as the tankless heaters, I went to a service class for Rinnau and the necessary water flow was a turn off for me. Also I found out they were not honoring their warranty on the heat exchangers even though many of them were installed with the necessary manifold for chemical cleaning. (I learned this from my local Johnstone Supply about a half year later.) I hope this policy has been updated. Some of the other operating controls were a turn off for that brand. Water flow was a main issue. I don't know about the other brands. If I had a tankless heater in my house I would go all out and install a holding tank with circulating pump, only because I can. (Pump between the heater and tank like commercial buildings most all have.) I hope things got better with the tankless heater operations.
I always feel that the American hot water systems are lower in temperature than here in Kiwiland. But then I have only used hotel/motel bathrooms situated who nows how far from the hot water source and set who knows where on the temperature dial.
Recommended maximum hot water temperature here is 50-55 C, or 122 - 131 F. We run a natural gas Infinity hot water heater situated just outside our bathroom window, and the bath temperature at 55 C is too hot to just climb into it. Even the shower needs the mixer turned towards the "cold" side a bit.
American hotel baths and showers are more at the top end of "warm" for me.
Recommended maximum hot water temperature here is 50-55 C, or 122 - 131 F. We run a natural gas Infinity hot water heater situated just outside our bathroom window, and the bath temperature at 55 C is too hot to just climb into it. Even the shower needs the mixer turned towards the "cold" side a bit.
American hotel baths and showers are more at the top end of "warm" for me.
120 is hot enough to prevent bacterial growth. Assuming your incoming water has been properly treated it's enough. If you're on untreated water you may want to set it at 140 or higher which is hot enough to not just prevent growth but to kill any bacteria present.
My WH is set at 120 degrees. Not sure what the actual temp is at the faucet, but it's hot enough for bathing, laundry and the dishwasher.
OP
LVSteve
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Yaworski
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From the DOE.
I'll err on the side of caution and set my water heater for volcano (acutally 150).
Can you get it in a "Lost in Space" version like the one that came with the lunchbox I had in 3rd grade?
Rennai tankless set at 120 by the plumbers has been good for almost 7 years now. Flushed every year.
Per the lawsuit the kids feet were permanently disfigured with skin on the toes all adhering to each other. This lawsuit resulted in the American Gas Association changing the max temp available on a water heater from 160 to 140 and the recommended from 140 to 130.
AGA made sure that all it's member utilities knew the results, though they were not a party to the suit.
Yaworski
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My five year old water heater can get much hotter than 140.
JcMack
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Temp of my freshly brewed coffee is 160 degrees. While water straight out my gas water heater 125 degrees.
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Anyone with a hot water tank in their home SHOULD look up Legionnaires Disease breeding and living in hot water storage tanks. It is a real situation!
Have not measured the temp, but my latest Southwest Gas bill is double what it was last year. I'm turning it down!
