Show InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. How to set the temperature of an electric water heater. This article series describes the various controls used on different types of water heaters and explains how each control is used to set domestic hot water temperature. We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need. How to adjust hot water temperature [Click to enlarge any image] If you don't see your water heater type in this list, post a question at the end of this page along with a photo of your water heater.
Electric Water Heater Temperature ControlOn a two-heating-element electric water heater, there may be just one temperature control thermostat, found at the upper heating element, or on some electric water heaters, both the upper and the lower heating element have their own individual thermostat. How will you know where all of the electric water heater thermostatic controls are located? Look. The actual controls and heating elements are hidden behind two removable cover panels pointed-to in our photo. [Click to enlarge any image] Watch out: when these covers are removed you will find (possibly covered first by an insulating panel) not only the heating element and temperature control thermostat but also live electrical connections. If electrical power to the heater has not been turned OFF and if you touch one of these connections you can be shocked or killed. [Click to enlarge any image] Here is what the electric water heater thermostat looks-like. Watch out: The temperature setting on this water heater, turned by a flat-bladed screwdriver, has been set to 150°F - which risks scalding burns. If you are going to set the temperature right at the electric water heater to a number above 120°F then because there is a risk of scalding burns, you should make use of one or more anti-scalding devices. See details about the devices used to set temperature at an electric water heater found at
If your electric water heater provides hot water only during certain times of the day, then a timer may be installed - illustrated below. Check the water heater timer: Some electric water heaters are installed with a timer (photographs above) that saves electricity costs by turning off the heater during periods when no one will be using hot water. If a timer is installed for your heater, it might be in its "off" position. Instructions for setting the water heater timer are inside the timer cover. See details at TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS Reader Comments & Q&AYes; we often turn off our electric water heater when it's going to be out of use for months. Turning off the electric water heater won't damage it. But in fact the stand-by losses and electricity usage level will be pretty low even if the heater is left "on" when no one is using hot water. Watch out: when you return home and before turning the water heater back on, check for evidence of leaks and run "hot" water at a nearby tap to be sure that the water heater is in fact full of water. Turning on an electric water heater, if its heating elements are not completely submerged in water, will result in an immediate burn-out of the heating elements: you'll then have no hot water. I inspected a home in upstate New York that was totally destroyed by a combination of hot water leakage and mold when the home was left un-attended for months. So turning off water entirely is a step in protecting a home from burst pipe water damage when it's un-occupied. Watch out: however where buidling heat is by a hot water or steam boiler, the water supply to that equipment must be left "ON" when the heating system will be be in use. Can I turn my electric water heater off for 2 months? ... Continue reading at ELECTRIC WATER HEATER CONTROLS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX. Or see these Recommended Articles
Suggested citation for this web pageELECTRIC HOT WATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. Or see this INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER HEATERSOr use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia ... Ask a Question or Search InspectApediaTry the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly. Search the InspectApedia website Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay. Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca Technical Reviewers & ReferencesClick to Show or Hide Citations & References Should the top and bottom water heater thermostats be set to the same temperature?Most electric water heaters will have two thermostats, one upper and one lower, under the two control panels. For your water heater to work most effectively and efficiently, the two thermostats must be set at the same temperature.
Why are there 2 thermostats on hot water heater?Most electric water heaters above 20 gallons have two thermostats that sense the temperature of the water in both the top and bottom of the tank. The upper thermostat is the boss and always tells the lower thermostat what to do.
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Electric hot water heater temperature settings top and bottom
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