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What is the best temperature setting for a water heater ?
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| konstantinknight9 | Date: Th, 08/22/2024, 10:31 PM | Message # 1 |
 Plumber
Group: Administrators
Status: Offline
| Finding the Right Temperature for Your Water Heater explained.
Maintaining the correct temperature in your water heater is crucial for both safety and efficiency.
Ideally, your water heater should be set between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Setting the temperature below 120 degrees increases the risk of bacterial growth in the stagnant water within the tank. Bacteria such as Legionella can thrive in these cooler temperatures, potentially leading to health issues.
On the other hand, temperatures above 140 degrees pose a different danger. Water at these high temperatures can cause scalding injuries in as little as two seconds, making it a safety hazard, especially for children and the elderly.
To balance safety and efficiency, aim for a water heater setting of around 120 degrees. This temperature helps prevent bacterial growth while minimizing the risk of burns, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for your family.
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| Daniel S. | Date: Fr, 08/23/2024, 11:12 PM | Message # 2 |
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Group: Guests
| Do you recommend to set a water heater on a vacation mode when away.
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| konstantinknight9 | Date: Fr, 08/23/2024, 11:15 PM | Message # 3 |
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Plumber
Group: Administrators
Status: Offline
| When planning to be away from home for several days or more, it's wise to set your water heater to vacation mode. Also known as "Pilot" mode, this setting helps conserve energy and protects your home from potential damage.
Vacation mode reduces the temperature of your water heater, consuming less energy compared to maintaining a higher temperature. This adjustment can lead to significant energy savings while you’re away.
Setting your water heater to vacation mode helps prevent issues such as frozen pipes, corrosion, and sediment buildup in the heater’s plumbing. It also minimizes the risk of damage from leaks by reducing the heater’s activity.
Vacation mode strikes a balance between turning off the heater completely and keeping it at a high temperature. This setting provides just enough heat to prevent system damage without unnecessary energy use.
Typically, vacation mode adjusts the water heater to about 50°F, which is sufficient to avoid freezing but not warm enough for a shower. When you return, remember to increase the temperature at least one hour before using the water.
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| Ariel H. | Date: Mo, 09/02/2024, 10:57 PM | Message # 4 |
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Group: Guests
| We are not getting enough hot water for our household. What can it be ?
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| konstantinknight9 | Date: Mo, 09/02/2024, 11:08 PM | Message # 5 |
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Plumber
Group: Administrators
Status: Offline
| Troubleshooting Insufficient Hot Water.
Here are some common reasons for insufficient hot water and potential solutions:
1. Water Heater Size:
Is it too small? If your household has grown or you've added water-intensive appliances, your current water heater might not be able to keep up.
Solution: Consider upgrading to a larger water heater or exploring tankless options.
2. Sediment Buildup:
Over time, sediment can accumulate at the bottom of the tank, reducing its efficiency.
Solution: Flush the water heater regularly to remove sediment. Consult your owner's manual for specific instructions.
3. Thermostat Settings:Is the thermostat set too low? Ensure it's set to a temperature that provides adequate hot water.
Solution: Adjust the thermostat to a higher temperature, typically between 120°F and 140°F.
4. Leaks:
A leak in the water heater or plumbing system can cause water loss, leading to insufficient hot water.
Solution: Check for leaks around the water heater and pipes. If you find one, call a plumber to repair it.
5. Multiple Appliances:
Running multiple hot water-using appliances simultaneously can deplete the hot water supply.
Solution: Try staggering the use of appliances or consider installing a whole-house water heater if your current one is struggling to keep up.
6. Temperature Mixing Valves:
If you have a temperature mixing valve, it might be malfunctioning or set too low.
Solution: Adjust the valve or have it inspected by a plumber.
If you've tried these steps and are still experiencing issues, it might be time to call a professional plumber to diagnose and resolve the problem.
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| Ariel H. | Date: Tu, 07/28/2026, 5:34 AM | Message # 6 |
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Group: Guests
| Thanks, that's a helpful list. We do have a fairly large family (5 people) and the tank is only 40 gallons — sounds like that might be it. How do I figure out what size tank we actually need before I go shopping for a replacement?
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| plumber | Date: Tu, 07/28/2026, 5:35 AM | Message # 7 |
 Soldier
Group: Administrators
Status: Online
| Good instinct — a 40 gallon tank is often on the small side for a household of 5, especially if people are showering back-to-back in the morning or running the dishwasher and laundry at the same time as showers.
Here's a simple way to size it:
Rule of thumb by household size (standard tank water heater):
- 1-2 people: 30-40 gallons
- 2-3 people: 40-50 gallons
- 3-4 people: 50 gallons
- 5+ people: 50-80 gallons
For a family of 5, I'd generally point you toward the 50-75 gallon range, depending on usage habits.
A few things that push you toward the higher end:
- Multiple showers happening back-to-back in the morning
- A soaking tub that needs a lot of hot water at once
- Simultaneous appliance use (dishwasher + laundry + showers)
- Teenagers in the house (usually means longer showers)
Also worth considering — First Hour Rating (FHR): this is actually more useful than tank size alone. It tells you how many gallons of hot water the unit can deliver in the first hour of use, factoring in both tank size and recovery rate. Look for an FHR in the 70-90 gallon range for a family your size.
One more option: if space or energy costs are a concern, a tankless water heater sized to your peak simultaneous demand (measured in gallons per minute, GPM) can solve the "running out of hot water" problem entirely, since it heats on demand rather than storing a fixed supply. It's a bigger upfront cost, but worth considering if you're already looking at replacing the unit anyway.
Either way, when you go shopping, tell the retailer your household size, number of bathrooms, and typical usage pattern (like "everyone showers between 6-8am") — that'll help them recommend the right size and type for your situation.
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| Ariel H. | Date: We, 08/12/2026, 4:42 AM | Message # 8 |
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Group: Guests
| This is great, thank you. Sounds like we're headed toward a 50-75 gallon replacement — we do have two teenagers and everyone showers between 6-8am, plus laundry usually running at the same time. Given all that, should we go straight for tankless instead, or is a bigger tank still the more practical choice for a busy household like ours?
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| plumber | Date: We, 08/12/2026, 4:43 AM | Message # 9 |
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Soldier
Group: Administrators
Status: Online
| Given what you've described — simultaneous morning demand across multiple showers plus laundry — this is actually one of the more common scenarios where the tank vs. tankless decision gets genuinely close, so let me break down both sides for your specific pattern.
Case for a bigger tank (75-80 gallon):
- Straightforward, well-understood technology with lower upfront cost and simpler installation (usually no gas line upsizing needed).
- Handles your simultaneous-use pattern fine as long as it's sized generously — a large tank has a big reserve to draw from during that 6-8am window, even if recovery can't quite keep pace in real time.
- The tradeoff: if the whole family's usage genuinely overlaps for 2 hours straight, a tank (even a big one) can still eventually dip in temperature toward the end of that window, especially in colder months when incoming water is colder to start.
Case for tankless:
- No storage limit — since it heats on demand, it can theoretically supply hot water indefinitely as long as it can keep up with your peak simultaneous GPM (gallons per minute) draw.
- For a household with 2 teenagers + laundry all overlapping, you'd want a higher-capacity unit (sized for roughly 3 fixtures running at once: multiple showers + a washing machine), which usually means a larger, more expensive unit and confirming your gas line and venting can support that higher BTU demand — worth having a plumber assess this specifically, since undersizing a tankless unit for your actual peak demand recreates the same "runs cold" problem you're trying to escape.
- Tankless costs more upfront and sometimes needs infrastructure changes (gas line, venting), but never runs out, and tends to last longer (15-20 years vs. 8-12 for tank).
My honest take for your household specifically: given that your peak demand is a genuinely overlapping, multi-fixture, sustained 2-hour window (not just two showers back-to-back), you're in the profile where tankless tends to pay off best — this is exactly the kind of household that outgrows even a large tank's reserve capacity over time. I'd get a plumber out to assess your existing gas line/venting and calculate your actual peak GPM need before deciding, since that will tell you the real cost difference between "big tank" and "properly sized tankless" for your home specifically.
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| Guest | Date: Th, 08/13/2026, 3:02 AM | Message # 10 |
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Group: Guests
| Does a tankless water heater save money if my family uses a lot of hot water?
We're considering replacing our old tank water heater with a tankless model because our family uses a lot of hot water every day.
I understand that a tankless water heater only heats water when it's needed, but I'm wondering if the higher installation cost is actually worth it for a large household.
How much energy can a tankless system realistically save compared with a traditional 50-75 gallon tank? Are there situations where a larger conventional tank would actually be more economical?
What should I consider besides the purchase price when comparing the two options?
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| plumber | Date: Th, 08/13/2026, 3:03 AM | Message # 11 |
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Soldier
Group: Administrators
Status: Online
| Does a tankless water heater save money if my family uses a lot of hot water?
A tankless water heater can reduce energy consumption because it doesn't continuously heat and maintain a large tank of stored hot water. However, whether it saves enough money to justify the higher installation cost depends on your household's water usage and the specific equipment.
For a large family with frequent hot-water use, tankless can be attractive because there is no fixed tank capacity. The system heats water as it is needed, so you don't have to wait for a large storage tank to recover after several showers.
The important issue is proper sizing. A tankless unit has a maximum flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM). If several showers and appliances operate simultaneously, the unit must be capable of providing enough hot water at that peak demand. An undersized system can still produce disappointing results.
Installation costs can also be higher. Depending on the model, the existing gas line, venting, electrical supply, or other components may need to be upgraded.
A conventional 50-75 gallon tank can still be the more economical choice when the initial installation cost is the main concern and the household's hot-water demand is relatively predictable.
For a large household with sustained, overlapping hot-water demand, I'd compare the total cost of ownership, including installation, energy use, maintenance and expected service life, rather than looking only at the purchase price.
Before choosing a system, have the installer calculate your peak hot-water demand and confirm that the home's gas supply and venting can support the proposed tankless unit. That will give you a much better comparison between a properly sized tankless system and a larger conventional water heater.
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| Guest | Date: Sa, 08/15/2026, 3:59 AM | Message # 12 |
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Group: Guests
| Is a heat pump water heater a good option for a family of five?
We're replacing our 40-gallon gas water heater because we're regularly running out of hot water. We've been comparing a larger 75-gallon tank with a tankless system, but now I'm also seeing heat pump water heaters.
Would a heat pump water heater be a practical choice for a family of five with heavy morning hot-water use? How does its recovery rate compare with a traditional gas water heater?
Are there any special requirements, such as enough space around the unit, a condensate drain, or a suitable electrical circuit?
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| plumber | Date: Sa, 08/15/2026, 4:00 AM | Message # 13 |
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Soldier
Group: Administrators
Status: Online
| Is a heat pump water heater a good option for a family of five?
A heat pump water heater can be a very efficient option, but the important thing is to choose a model with enough storage capacity and first-hour rating for the household's peak demand.
Unlike a conventional gas water heater, a heat pump water heater moves heat from the surrounding air into the water rather than generating heat directly. This can significantly reduce energy consumption, but recovery can be different from a high-input gas unit.
For a family of five with several people showering during the same morning period, I would pay close attention to the manufacturer's First Hour Rating (FHR) rather than looking only at the tank's gallon capacity. Your actual usage pattern matters more than simply having a large tank.
There are also installation requirements to consider. Heat pump water heaters generally need adequate surrounding air volume or appropriate ducting, a condensate drain, and a properly sized electrical circuit. They can also produce some airflow noise and cool/dehumidify the room where they are installed.
The biggest advantage is operating efficiency. If the home has suitable space and electrical service, the lower operating cost can make a heat pump water heater attractive over its service life.
For this particular household, I'd compare three options:
- 75-gallon conventional tank — simplest and familiar, with strong recovery depending on the burner.
- Properly sized tankless — excellent for sustained simultaneous demand, but may require gas-line and venting modifications.
- Heat pump water heater — potentially much lower energy use, but requires suitable installation conditions and careful sizing.
Before buying, compare the FHR, recovery performance, energy rating, installation requirements and total installed cost, rather than choosing solely by tank size. The family's two-hour morning demand makes proper sizing especially important.
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| Guest | Date: Sa, 08/15/2026, 11:30 AM | Message # 14 |
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Group: Guests
| Would a hot water recirculation system be worth installing in a large house?
We have a large family and several bathrooms, and one of our biggest annoyances is having to wait a long time for hot water at the bathrooms farthest from the water heater.
We're considering a hot-water recirculation system so hot water is available more quickly at the fixtures.
Does a recirculation pump significantly increase energy or water usage? Is it better to use a timer, a temperature-controlled pump, or a demand-activated system?
Would a recirculation system make sense with either a large tank water heater or a tankless unit?
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| plumber | Date: Sa, 08/15/2026, 11:31 AM | Message # 15 |
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Soldier
Group: Administrators
Status: Online
| Would a hot water recirculation system be worth installing in a large house?
A hot-water recirculation system can be very useful in a large home, especially when bathrooms are located far from the water heater. Instead of allowing cooled water to remain in the hot-water line, the system circulates water back toward the heater, reducing the wait for hot water.The main tradeoff is energy use. A continuously running recirculation loop can lose heat through the piping, particularly if the hot-water lines aren't well insulated. That's why a timer or demand-controlled system is usually preferable to running the pump 24/7.A demand-activated system can be particularly efficient. The pump starts when hot water is requested and shuts down once the loop reaches the desired temperature. A temperature sensor can also prevent unnecessary operation.For a large household, I'd consider:- Timer-controlled: simple and inexpensive, but the pump may run when nobody needs hot water.
- Temperature-controlled: maintains the loop within a desired temperature range.
- Demand-controlled: generally the most water- and energy-conscious option because circulation occurs when hot water is actually needed.
With a tank water heater, recirculation can work very well, but the additional heat loss becomes part of the heater's workload.With a tankless water heater, recirculation requires more careful design because the heater needs to recognize the circulation demand and operate correctly at low flow. Some tankless models are specifically designed to work with recirculation, while others may require an external control strategy.I'd also insulate the hot-water recirculation piping. That reduces heat loss and makes the system considerably more efficient.For a large home, the biggest benefit may actually be water conservation: instead of running a faucet for several minutes waiting for hot water, you get usable hot water much sooner.So if the problem is long wait times at distant bathrooms, a properly designed demand-controlled recirculation system with insulated piping can be a worthwhile upgrade. It should be evaluated together with the water heater rather than treated as an entirely separate system.
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