Ask most people how to save money on home energy bills and they’ll probably think about turning off lights or turning down the temperature on their heating system thermostat. But there’s another thermostat in your home that can help you save money: your water heating thermostat.
When most water heaters leave their factories, their thermostat is set to 140 degrees – hot enough to scald, and higher than most people need (there are exceptions to this, however, as we will see).
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, setting your water thermostat to 120°F is more than enough to slow mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes while keeping your water supply safe to use. By dropping the thermostat on your water heater by 20 degrees, you’ll burn less heating oil, potentially saving hundreds of dollars per year in energy bills.
While most people can get by setting their thermostat to 120°, certain homeowners should stick with 140°. For example, if someone living in your household has a suppressed immune system or chronic respiratory disease, a 140-degree setting is preferred to prevent Legionnaires’ disease and other water-borne health risks. Also, if your dishwasher doesn’t pre-heat water, you might want to maintain the higher temperature.
Not sure what temperature your hot water heater is set to, or how to change it? Don’t worry – it’s easy! Check out this video from the U.S. Department of Energy, and if you’re still having trouble, give us a call – we’ll walk you through it.
If your water heater is having trouble maintaining its temperature, or if you’re experiencing other water heater problems such as strange noises or smells or a buildup of sediment, contact us today. We offer expert water heater repair and replacement in Essex County, NJ, and can provide a FREE estimate on a water heater upgrade for your home.
For expert water heater service and professional water heater installations in Essex County, Passaic and Bergen County New Jersey, no one beats the pros at JW Pierson Co. Contact us today to learn more!