A lot of water heaters are set to 140 degrees. This is a good temperature given that the bacteria, legionella, are not able to increase and nearly all are unable to live in such hot temps. However, 140 degrees can be too hot for small kids and seniors. If one is seeking to save cash also, consider changing the water temperature to around 120 and 130 degrees. The financial savings is not incredibly substantial, but this is the minimum suggested temp to avoid contaminating water with legionella. Although this bacteria is alright to ingest, it can be incredibly dangerous if taken into the lungs. Legionella lives and multiplies in warm water but not in hot water. But, when looking at what temps to set ones water heater to, it is critical not to set it too high. Second and 3rd degree burns can happen on adult skin in 5 seconds under the preset temp of 140 degrees, so never set the water temp any higher and consider setting it lower if there are little ones or seniors in the household. Check out this post to learn more about the legionella bacteria and how to choose the ideal water heater temperature setting. Learn more about water heater repairs here.
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