How Can I Change My Water Cylinder's Temperature?
First, you could be surprised to learn that you can change your hot water cylinder’s temperature yourself, especially if you don’t have much experience with water heaters. This task actually isn’t very difficult, and you can most likely do it yourself or with help from a friend.
The simple steps to do this are:
Step 1: Check Your Water Temperature. You can easily test your water by turning on your hot water, waiting about a minute to get it as hot as it can be and then filling a room-temperature glass with it. Fully submerge a thermometer probe into the water to check how hot it is. If you wish to raise or lower this temperature, continue with the next steps.
Step 2: Check Your Water Cylinder. How you can change your water heater’s thermostat will depend on the type of water system you have. Check your home’s water heater to see if it has a dial, an adjustment knob or other type of interface. If your water heater is electric, please turn it off before you alter anything.
Step 3: Alter Your Water Heater. Use the proper methods to raise or lower your water heater’s thermostat. We recommend doing so a few degrees at a time to prevent drastic changes and potential burns.
Step 4: Wait Three Hours, Then Test Your Water. Your water heater will take a little while to catch up with its new settings. Wait three hours, then test your water again to see if you’re happy with your work.
Still, even though it’s a straightforward job, please stay safe and cautious when adjusting your hot water cylinder’s temperature.
Additionally, remember that there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. You can contact your trusty local plumbers and gasfitters (like us at Hot Water Solutions!) to lend you a hand.
What's The Best Temperature To Set My Water Cylinder To?
You know you can change your temperature, but should you? A few factors go into whether you should or shouldn’t change your hot water’s temperature.
Additionally, the temperature your storage tank stores water at may not match that of the water that comes out of the tap because your water may cool down a little as it travels through your pipes.
Hot water cylinder temperatures in New Zealand tend to be around 60 degrees Celsius because this temperature is hot enough to kill legionella bacteria. However, at this temperature, water will usually come out of your taps at no higher than 55 degrees.
This is good because water at 60 degrees can burn your skin in five seconds, and water at 70 degrees can burn your skin in one second. A hot water tempering valve can reduce the temperature of the water from your taps by mixing cold water with hot water.
Knowing that 60 degrees is the ideal minimum hot water cylinder temperature, we’ll now explore the various reasons why people choose to change their water temperature.
Comfort. This quality is completely up to personal preference; how hot or cold do you like your water? Some people prefer to shower, bathe or wash their hands in hot water, whereas others are fine with cooler or lukewarm water.
If your water isn’t hot enough, you may want to increase your water heater’s thermostat. If you’re fine with colder water, you might want to decrease it or leave it as it is.
Please remember that hotter water increases the chances of painful burns. Steamy showers are lovely, but they’re not worth getting burned!
Utility Costs. Heating water costs energy, and that energy costs money. So, naturally, if you lower your water temperature, you should expect to see lower monthly energy costs. Many people choose to reduce their hot water cylinder’s temperature to save on bills.
This could be ideal for you if you’re fine with the lowered temperature and you remain above the 60-degree minimum. In addition to lowering your thermostat, you can also take other actions to lower your monthly costs.
For example, think about:
Using Less Hot Water. In general, lowering your water usage is a good idea, regardless of whether you’re using hot or cold.
Only Using Hot Water When Necessary. Not every task needs hot water! Think about the times you use hot water and consider if you can use cold instead.
Turning Off The Water Tap As Soon As You Can. Leaving your tap on for a few seconds might not seem that harmful, but that water adds up every time you do! Please turn off your water the moment you stop needing it.
Safety. Hot water can scald you. Water at 60 degrees can burn you in five seconds, water at 70 degrees can burn you in a terrifying single second, but water at 53 degrees takes a full minute to cause minor burns. Homes with vulnerable family members should seriously consider their hot water temperature options to avoid accidental burns.
Small children and elderly individuals are the most at risk because they often have more sensitive skin or slower reaction times than adults or older children. Always supervise your small children when they’re around hot water.
Where You Can Learn More About Hot Water In New Zealand?
As you can see, determining your ideal hot water cylinder temperature is a bit tricky. Would you like some help? Call us at Hot Water Solutions, or visit our site to find the right answers to your questions.
We supply New Zealand with a wide variety of incredible hot water products! Our store has hot water cylinders, water heating systems and more!
You can reach us at 0800497658 or contact us through our website if you’d like help or have any questions.
At Hot Water Solutions, all we do is hot water, and we’re here to help!
