How to Adjust the Temperature on Your Water Heater

The Magic Number for Savings, Comfort, and Safety

water heater Johnson City, TN Most homeowners thing heating is the biggest chunk of their energy bill. But the fact is, it’s water heating that can represent as much as 30% of energy bills, or even more. Your water heater works hard behind the scenes, providing the hot water you need for showers, dishwashing, and laundry. You could cut back on hot water use—shorter showers, cold-water wash for laundry—but there’s an easier way to reduces hot-water driven energy costs without sacrificing hot showers, and boosting safety too.

Adjusting your water heater’s temperature is an easy way to improve efficiency, reduce energy costs, and help prevent burns. Here’s how to find the right setting—and how to make the adjustment safely on both traditional tank-style and tankless water heaters.

Ideal Water Heater Temperature

Did you know the default temperature setting might not be the best for your home? The typical default setting for water heaters is 140°F, which increases energy consumption and the risk of burns—especially for children or older adults.

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your water heater to 120°F. That’s warm enough to meet most household needs while helping prevent scalding injuries and reducing mineral buildup and energy use.

That said, if someone in your home has a suppressed immune system, or if your home has an older-style heater prone to bacterial growth, you might want to keep it closer to 130°F.

How to Adjust the Temperature

Adjusting the temperature on your water heater is easy, but the process is slightly different depending on whether you have a tank-type or tankless water heater, and whether its powered by gas or electricity. Always consult the owners manual for the specific instructions for your model.

Tank-Style Water Heater

Here’s how to adjust the temperature of your gas-fueled tank-type water heater:

Locate the temperature dial. It’s usually on the gas control valve near the bottom of the tank.
Use a flathead screwdriver to turn the dial to your desired setting—often labeled as “Low,” “Hot,” or “Very Hot.”
Wait a few hours and test the water temperature at a faucet.

Here’s how to adjust the temperature of your electric tank-type water heater:

Turn off the power at the circuit breaker before starting.
Remove the upper and lower access panels using a screwdriver.
Inside, you’ll find thermostat dials. Adjust both to the same temperature using a flathead screwdriver.
Replace the panels and restore power.
Wait a few hours and test the water.

Pro tip: Use a thermometer to check water temp at the tap—it should read around 120°F for ideal efficiency and safety.

Tankless Water Heaters

Most tankless models have a digital control panel, making temperature adjustments even easier, regardless of whether they are fueled by gas or electricity.

Locate the digital display—often found on the unit or via a remote control panel.
Press the up or down arrows to set the temperature, usually in 1-degree increments.
For everyday use, set it to 120°F. If you need hotter water for certain tasks, like sanitizing, you can temporarily increase it.

Tankless systems are known for their precision, so once you set the temperature, you’ll get consistent hot water at that level—no mixing needed.

Water Heater Efficiency

Adjusting your water heater’s temperature is a small step that can lead to big savings, greater comfort, and improved safety in your home.

If you want to take that comfort-meets efficiency equation a notch higher, talk to the experts at Admiral. We can show you how a propane water heater can cost less to run than an electric unit. We’ll help you choose the best option for your needs, install it correctly, and provide maintenance and repairs. Enjoy energy efficiency and all the hot water you need with a new propane water heater!