We all use tap water in our homes every day, but what if the temperature of the water coming out of the tap is not as high as we need it to be? If you switch the tap on and the water is cool or lukewarm when you need it to be hot, this can be a real inconvenience. So, why may the temperature of your tap water be too cool and how can you adjust it.
Most people have their water heater set to around 120 degrees. This temperature is generally sufficient to produce hot water that is not scalding. This is also an efficient setting when it comes to saving money on energy bills. But what if the water coming from your tap no longer feels hot enough?
How adjusting your water heater may help
If the temperature of the air decreases it can affect the temperature of the water in your hot water system. This is why you may need to adjust the thermostat in your water heater during periods of cold weather.
You will need to switch off the power to your water heater before you do this. Once you have done this you will need to access the thermostat via the front panel on your water heater. Some water heaters have one thermostat, others have two. If your water heater has two thermostats you need to adjust them both.
What happens if the water temperature does not change?
If you adjust the thermostat in your water heater, and the temperature of the water coming out of your tap does not change, there may be a problem with the thermostat or with the water heating elements in the system.
There are ways that you can test if there are problems with either of these items. The tests are relatively simple but you may feel more comfortable calling a professional like Plumbing Detectives to help. Depending on what the problem is you may be able to have the individual part replaced or you may need to invest in a new water heating system.
If you notice a change in the temperature of your hot water it’s worth investigating straight away. If you do so you can get the problem resolved while you still have some level of hot water which prevents you from being stuck in the middle of cold weather with no hot water at all. In cold weather periods it can be more difficult to hire the services of a professional plumber to help.
If the water coming out of the tap is not hot enough it will hopefully just mean that you need to adjust the thermostat on your water heater. If you do this you should be careful not to make the water temperature too hot; especially if there are children or elderly people using the water supply.
If you are unable to raise the temperature of your water supply it’s a good idea to call a professional plumber to help you resolve the issue.