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Service OlympiansHow to Adjust Your Water Heater Temperature
Stay comfortable by making some small adjustments
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Adjusting your water heater temperature keeps your water comfortable and energy bills lower, with the ideal setting between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Expect to pay $900 to $1,800 for water heater replacement, with average costs around $1,300, so addressing temperature issues early helps avoid larger expenses.
You can adjust gas water heaters by turning the temperature control knob, while electric models require opening the access panel and adjusting the thermostat dial.
Hiring a local water heater repair professional provides reliable support with thermostat adjustments and diagnosing temperature issues before they lead to costly replacements.
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It can be frustrating when your shower water isn’t quite hot enough — or potentially unsafe if it’s always piping hot. Luckily, adjusting the temperature on your water heater is surprisingly quick and easy, and it can even help lower your energy bill. Here’s what you need to know to change the temperature on your water heater yourself, plus when it may be a good idea to hire a pro.
Angi Tip
Some DIY repairs are great for saving money and sharpening your skills, but leave larger jobs like water heater repair to the pros. An experienced hand can ensure the task is completed safely and will prevent further damage.
What Temperature Should My Water Heater Be Set At?
Ideally, water heaters should be set between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 120 degrees is the minimum setting to slow mineral build-up and corrosion. Anything over 140 degrees could lead to unnecessarily high energy bills or, in some cases, scalding. For that reason, the sweet spot falls somewhere around 130 degrees for most households.
In some cases, your water heater may have letter or symbol settings instead of traditional numbers on the temperature control knob. Here’s what those settings typically mean:
Triangle: 120 degrees Fahrenheit
A: 130 degrees Fahrenheit
B: 140 degrees Fahrenheit
C: 150 degrees Fahrenheit
Very hot: 160 degrees Fahrenheit
Keep these settings in mind when changing the temperature on your water heater.
How to Adjust a Hot Water Heater
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to change the temperature settings on your water heater. As long as you know the type of water heater you're adjusting and have a screwdriver handy, you can tackle this task in just a few minutes. While the steps are similar if you have a gas or electric water heater, the process will vary slightly.
Gas Water Heater
Locate the temperature control knob on the unit.
Adjust the knob as needed to increase or decrease the temperature setting. You may need to use a screwdriver depending on the design.
Relight the water heater’s pilot light, if needed.
Electric Water Heater
Turn the power off to your heater at the electrical circuit panel.
Locate the rectangular access panel. There may be one or two, depending on your model.
Open the panels, using a screwdriver if necessary.
Look for a piece of semi-rigid or fiberglass insulation inside. Pinch and pull the insulation out.
Locate the temperature dial.
Turn the dial to your desired temperature. Use a screwdriver if needed.
If you have two access panels, set the top thermostat slightly higher than the bottom.
Replace the insulation.
Close the panels.
Turn the power back on at the circuit panel.
It’ll take the tank a couple of hours to heat the water. After about four hours, check the temperature. Run the hot water tap for a few minutes to remove any remaining cool water. Then, fill a cup with the hot water and test it with a thermometer to make sure it’s accurate.
Tankless Water Heater
One of the benefits of a tankless versus storage tank water heater is how easy it is to adjust. For most tankless units, you’ll have an LED display where you can adjust the temperature with the push of a button (like a thermostat.) In some cases, there may still be a dial. Either way, it should be pretty easy to change the temperature on your tankless water heater.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
The best way to ensure a consistently comfortable water temperature is to take care of your appliance regularly. There are a lot of water heater components that require maintenance and attention to ensure the appliance lasts as long as possible.
Here are a few tips for how to maintain your water heater.
Schedule an annual inspection from a plumber.
Flush your water heater annually.
Test the temperature relief valve once a year.
Test the water heater thermostat if you suspect it needs replacement.
Wrap older water heaters with insulation.
Set the water temperature to the lowest setting that’s still comfortable.
Can I Adjust My Own Water Heater Temperature?
It’s not hard to change the settings on your water heater, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any safety concerns to be aware of. If you’re uncomfortable working with gas or electricity, you can hire a local water heater repair service to adjust the appliance for you.
And in some cases, it’s not a faulty setting that’s impacting the temperature of your water. For example, if you notice that your hot water heater is making a weird noise or requires increasingly frequent adjustments, it could be a sign that you need a new one altogether.
If that’s the case and you need to hire a local water heater installer to replace your heater, be prepared for a pretty hefty bill. The cost to replace a water heater is between $900 and $1,800, or $1,300 on average. If you need to replace a tankless water heater, the average cost is between $1,200 and $3,500.
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Water heater services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
5.0★ avg. • 7 total reviews
- Marwan T.
If you’re good people wanting to do business with good people, hire Matt. He is a consummate professional and utterly competent. He installed a water heater in my home at a price that beat competitors by hundreds of dollars with a promise to support the unit for its life (even after its 6 yr...
Greene's Plumbing Services - Mike Z.
As usual with ECO, tech Jordan was outstanding, very professional, very knowledgeable, and very thorough with repairs made to tankless water heaters. Very highly recommend ECO!!!
Eco Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Technicians - Michael S.
Did a great job replacing the ice maker and water regulator on my refrigerator. He was quick and thorough, very friendly and professional. If I needed a heart transplant I'd want him to do it!!!
- Maria C.
We had a gutter blockage that was causing water to sheet down the side of the house and ultimately it started to come in at a window (need mortar people next). Called around 7:30am, and he responded by 8am. He was able to come out the same morning and do a look over and clean out. He also...
- Brad S.
Scott checked our large crawl space for mold and water infiltration and recommended a viable solution. The crew was efficient and they cleaned up well after the job. The job was expensive but I am confident that I won't have to deal with the problem again. Highly recommend.
AdvantaClean of Dublin - Ann S.
They were the most through inspecting the water system in my house. Even going the extra mile to get the water professionally tested for contamination.
Hague Water Conditioning, Inc. - Service Olympians
- Mike B.
The Paul Davis team was very professional and went the extra mile to take care of my water damage. The work was very high quality and done in a timely manner. I would highly recommend their services.
Paul Davis Restoration - Gene S.
Honesty is hard to find in business today. GBR met me today at a 3 story building regarding my being told that I needed to tuckpoint the brick because of water leaks. The owners took the time to evaluate the situation and advised me that I did not need their service at all. They pointed me...
GBR Masonry Inc - Stewart W.
They unclogged the drain and sent me a bill for more than 4 times what I paid before. I called the Water Works to ask why the bill was so high and that they should have gotten my authorization before assuming they could make expensive decisions like that on my behalf and for their benefit....
The Waterworks
The homeowners guide to water heater services
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