If I turn up the temperature in a water heater, will the hot water last longer?
headdah asked:
My hot water heater is a small and hot showers only last 15 to 20 minutes in the winter. If I turn up the water temperature, will I use less hot water in the tank and, therefore, would I get a longer shower?
Ok! Ok! It doesn’t take me 15 to 20 minutes to get clean.
Mostly the issue arises if more than one person in my house wants to take a shower, say, in the morning.
Eun
My hot water heater is a small and hot showers only last 15 to 20 minutes in the winter. If I turn up the water temperature, will I use less hot water in the tank and, therefore, would I get a longer shower?
Ok! Ok! It doesn’t take me 15 to 20 minutes to get clean.
Mostly the issue arises if more than one person in my house wants to take a shower, say, in the morning.Eun
January 30th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Fredericka
Yes because it will take longer to cool off.
January 31st, 2010 at 4:15 am
Milissa
Yup.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Ardath
No,not really. But your electric or gas bill will go up for sure. 15-20 minute showers aren’t real enviro friendly:)
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:52 am
Fredda
Yes as you will turn down the hot water flow so you will not use it so fast but be care full how high you turn it because it can cause burns .
February 5th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Carmelita
No, you will be heating the same amount of water just to a higher temp.
February 7th, 2010 at 2:37 am
Leola
It doesn’t need to be set any higher that 120 degrees. Get in, get clean and get out. Don’t live in the shower.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:54 am
Albertina
very smart…..yes because you need less hot water mixed with cold because hot side is now hotter.
You may want to change your shower heads to low flow. They are cheap and save lots of water.
Caution! If you have kids there is a Scalding danger! Only go up to the next setting and ck it in 24 hours and make sure the hot water is not Scalding hot!
Temperature Time to Cause
of Water a Bad Burn
————————————-
150°F (66°C) 2 seconds
140°F (60°C) 6 seconds
125°F (52°C) 2 minutes
120°F (49°C) 10 minutes
February 11th, 2010 at 6:29 am
Arianna
Yes, assuming the temperature of the shower is the same. This is because you will be using less hot water and more cold water to get the warm temperature.
I wouldn’t recommend turning the temperature up above 120 degrees, though. With hotter hot water, you run the risk of scalding if you somehow end up with just the hot water on.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Jaye
Yes because you will use less hot water.
You will adjust less hot water when you set the hot and cold valves or valve to get the same temperature out of the shower head that you usually get.
Be careful if you have small children, they may turn on the hot water only and not realize how hot it can get to.
February 14th, 2010 at 5:59 am
Ed
Yes, but it takes longer so you will have to wait.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Leandra
Turning the water temp. up on the hot water heater, you would:
- Have the burner (electric or gas kick on more to keep it heated) work harder. Thus running the risk of damaging your water heater. Or adding more wear & tear.
- Run the risk of scalding annother person/child.
- Slightly higher bills
But that is everyones choice….maybe next time get a slightly bigger water heater. OR take a nice LONG BATH durning the winter months.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:51 am
Twila
It will last longer because you probably will still want the same temprature water for your shower but since the hot water is now hotter, it will take less of it mixed with the cold water to get your desired temrature.
But here are the negatives to doing that:
1. Hot water tanks will turn on and off to maintain a temprature even when no water is being used. By having the setting set higher you will be using more energy when you are not even using the water making your energy bill go up.
2. Higher temprature means higher chance of getting burned if you accidentily turn on just the hot water.
Depending on the age of your water heater. If it’s old enough and you need to replace it anyway and if you plan on being in the house for a long time (years). Then consider replacing the water tank with a Tankless water heater. They cost a lot more but you get your money back over time if you stay in the house because your not paying for heating water just to stay hot in a tank.
February 19th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Lanelle
For the most part, when you turn up the temp. setting on a water heater, whether it’s gas or electric, you wind up with HOTTER water, not more hot water. There’s only so much water in the tank, the elements or the burner comes on and heats at a prescribed temp. while it’s on, in order to get hotter water you simply heat the water longer. If this action results in you being able to adjust more cold water into the flow of the shower to allow you a longer warm shower, then you’ve achieved your goal. But be aware that the possibility exists that if you turn up the temp. a little too high, small children and or elderly people who can’t feel heat as well as middle aged adults, can scald their skin and receive serious burns as a result. If you have a fairly new house or have recently remodeled your bath with new fixtures, you may not be able to adjust the mixture of the water temp. anyway. Most new shower/tub fixtures have an anti-scald device built in that, if set properly, won’t allow enough hot water into the flow to hurt anyone.
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:59 am
Everette
Yes, if you raise the temperature of the hot water,
your ‘mix` at the shower will use less hot water
and more cold, so you’ll drain the tank slower.
The disadvantages are that you will spend more
power maintaining the higher temperature in the
tank, and there is a limit to the safe temperature
for domestic water. Beyond 120 Deg. F. , scalding
is possible. Observe that limit if you have kids or
guests.
How’s that shower-massage unit working out for ya?
If you’re taking 15-20 Min. showers, you must be
squeaky clean!