Renter here in a 1960's home. (I'm the one with loose electric outlets.)
I have my gas hot water heater set on the arrow which I assume is average hot. When I shower, I don't turn on any cold water. In other words, just the hot water on is ok for a shower. If I'm feeling like a real hot shower, I'd have to decide the night before and turn up the water heater.
Is this normal? Do you think this could be due to sediment? I don't think the heater is older than 10 years but it's not a real efficient one. It's in my heated basement and I put a "blanket" on it a month ago, hopefully to save a bit of money.
Should I just turn it up to "A", "B" or "C"...which I assume is hotter since it's up the dial. I don't want to waste money.
Turn the dial to whatever setting produces the temperature water you would like. If you are worried that much about wasting money just turn off the water heater entirely.
Turn the dial to whatever setting produces the temperature water you would like. If you are worried that much about wasting money just turn off the water heater entirely.
You are not allowed to set the water temperature. Our government takes care of your needs and knows what you should be doing. Many states have plumbing codes that state the water temperature must not exceed 125 degrees or 116 degrees in the shower, etc.
If, however, you want to be a lawless renegade, go ahead and turn up that dial. It is easy enough to blend i n some cold water to get just what you want. There is a risk of scalding above 130 or so, thus the codes. The higher the water temperature, the greater the loss to the atmosphere too. In the winter, that is helping to keep the house warmer so it may not be costly at all since you pay one way or another.
Many gas water heater are 55% efficent new, and with scale they get worse, so if you dont want to waste money throw the tank away and dont shower, or join a health club and shower there. Where does HW go anyway, down the drain as in money down the drain. I gave up showering years ago and I never smelled better. Did you ever see an igloo with a shower, alot of folks have no HW.
What you're doing is fine. Heaters today are typically set for 125 degrees, probably for liability reasons. If this is OK for your normal use, leave it alone, and do just what you have been doing. Do not turn off the heater unless you plan to be away for a while, or re-heating the tank will wind up costing more. >
Many gas water heater are 55% efficent new, and with scale they get worse, so if you dont want to waste money throw the tank away and dont shower, or join a health club and shower there. Where does HW go anyway, down the drain as in money down the drain. I gave up showering years ago and I never smelled better. Did you ever see an igloo with a shower, alot of folks have no HW.
Well, that convinced me, and you wonder why you live alone? (lol)
Check your hot water temp with a thermometer under a faucet. Should be
120-130F. Safety conscious people prefer closer to 120, people who like hot showers (and clean clothes and dishes) prefer the latter. If you have small children or elderly living with you better to err towards the lower setting.
If the heater is fairly recent, it likely came preset for 120F. Absolutely nothing wrong with setting it a little higher.
It can't hurt to flush the tank for sediment every year, but you say you're renting, there's a non-zero possibility that you may have issues with the old drain valve (either it won't close all the way, or it'll stick, or something...) which would necessitate replacement, that gets waaaaay into the territory of "stuff you don't want to be liable for when someone else's stuff breaks after you messed with it."
Hot water heaters have a finite life cycle. 15 years is normally about it. Sediment likely as well as it's probably lost a heating element.
Up the dial and notify the owner that the hot water heater is no longer working on 'all thrusters' and will need replacement soon.
Despite the many flip answers I've seen you get, your rental (house not apartment I gather) is out of code spec in a few ways. How badly, I cant say. There's no requirement for the owner to fix it all to code if grandfathered for the specs of the time it was built, but basic safety things do need to be fixed.
How friendly is the owner? In my case when the place was rented, we had quite a bit of work done for the tenants including having 3 new GFCI outlets put in (1 kitchen, 2 on the screened porch).
The contract would have covered the hot water heater, oven, and the HVAC. The HVAC needed work several times (it was rented 7 years). However we also specified all other appliances were 'as is' and if they went, would not be replaced (nor were they required to leave the replacements for us if they had to replace anything). If the originals were still working, they were to leave them with us.
Because we were overseas (in Japan actually), we used a rental agent and he took care of all maintenance.
Sadly our experience was not a good one, but most renters are good people and most owners would take care of your electrical and hot water heater issues with no hassles. Other appliances will depend on the contract.
You're RENTING this place...Call the landlord and talk to him or her about your outlets and waterheater...As nate said this is not something you want to mess with as are the outlets..Even turning it up is out of bounds if the heat and lights are included in your rent...If the place is unacceptable and the landlord is unresponsive , MOVE...That's the advantage of RENTING......
Not normal. If the water was hot last month, and not hot anymore, I'd suspect sediment or possibly end-of-service is near. If you have not flushed the tank in 24 months, doing so may help. A blanket should not restrict air intake on a gas heater. The flames should look clear or blue.
FWIW, back in my OSU college days the university decided to lower the hot water temperature for energy conservation. Shortly after there was an outbreak of bacteria that made many students sick. Your hot water should, at minimum, be 120 degrees F coming out of the tap (when the tank is not in "recovery" mode). Cooler than that, there is a high risk of bacteria growth. If hotter than 125, you might be able to save some money.
More dumbass bullshit from ransley posting numbers that just flew out of his ass. SHOW me documentation on just ONE SINGLE GAS WATERHEATER that is new and is only 55% efficient. Just one! You gave up showering? Ha Ha. Only you would be that cheap. Ransley the stinky skinflint. Bubba
Hey Mr Moron bubbles bubba, you just prove again and again your no pro heat guy anything. Its called, for your help and education, E.F. that is the Energy Factor rating. And for just about every tank made, they are all here for you to see to help you learn at
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you really need to grow up and quit making a fool of yourself here every time you post. You will find im sure more than 60, that are 55 EF. You also need to learn the EF rating. Do you know what AFUE is, probably not, do you know what % is?
First, the water heat is gas so no elements are burned out.
You missed the line > I have my gas hot water heater set on the arrow
Next, the code may vary in some states, but in MA the temperature is set so that you CAN turn the hot water on and take a shower and not scald yourself. While you state the house is out of code, the water heater is in compliance at that temperature. Property owners can have some liability if a child is scalded by hot water so they try to limit the temperature. Seniors have problems with scalding also.
Nice try ransley. You know, I don't think I've ever met anyone quite as stupid as you. Absolutely dumber than a box of rocks. AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) and EF (energy factor) are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT methods of calculation and are very different and not directly comparable. I don't know how else to explain it to that pea size mass you call a brain. Maybe if you weren't sitting on it so much it would work a little better. Do a little research and come back when you can grow up and speak intelligently with the adults. Now get back in your crib. Bubba
Im just sick and tired of him and idiots like him spewing all kinds of inaccurate crap about water heaters, boilers etc that is wrong and will get people hurt or killed with some of his stupid advice. Hell, look at all the silly shit I responded to. That freaking moron spews out advice on almost ever single post in alt.home.repair. I dont care if he tells someone how to wax their car and his advice peals the paint but when he starts telling people how to adjust gas appliances that is not safe, thats when the fool needs a smack-down. Then all he does is spits out numbers he makes up so people might think he is credible. When I ask for proof, he never shows it. Idiots like him are just plain dangerous. Bubba
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