​Record Low Temps! Should I Adjust Water Heater Settings?

The Baltimore area is experiencing record low temps and the threat of more than a foot of snow. You want hot water. And you want your home safe. 

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being in a hurry to get to work, stepping in your shower, and getting the chilling reminder that there is a water heater somewhere in your house, but it’s not working. There are a lot of things that could be going wrong. And there are a lot of variables to consider to achieve a consistent water temp through the winter months. And adjusting the thermostat may be the simplest solution. 

Colder and Older isn’t Always a Good Combo
Colder water in your home starts with colder water in the ground outside. The water coming into your home needs more heat than usual to get to the temps you’re used to. So guess what? Yep, your water heater has to work harder than usual to get usual results. Newer water heaters usually keep up but older water heaters are like older human bodies. They ain’t as good as they once was. 

A Tiny Tweak May Be All You Need
You may have heard that a good temp setting for your water heater should be around 110 degrees to prevent scalding and save on energy costs. However, in the winter months 110 may not be sufficient to keep the water hot. A tiny tweak of just 5 or 10 degrees may do the trick! 

BUT WAIT
Adjusting the temp on a gas water heater is easy, it's just a knob. But an electric water heater means playing around with 240 volts of electricity. Hot water isn't worth dying for! Call us and let us help.

The best way to check the temperature is to use a thermometer under the flowing water of your faucet -- the faucet in your home that is farthest away from the water heater, and the one that’s closest to your water heater and find the best temp in between. Adjust the thermostat until the temp is right and safe for your home.  

Other Measures
It may not simply be the cold weather that’s making water temps lower. So instead of adjusting thermostat, you may want to inspect the appliance to see if there is any buildup of sediment. You can also get a jacket for your water heater to keep temps consistent, and you may want to insulate the pipes. 

If you can’t be bothered with any of that because you’re too busy or other things are more pressing, why not call the experts at Speedy Water Heaters? With Speedy, you’ll never overpay, so call today! 

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