If you’ve just moved into a new home, you’ll want to tailor everything to your liking—including the water heater. Before you crank the heat up, know that there is a plumber-recommended range to stick to. Hovering around this number has several benefits, so use the guide below to get the most from your appliance.

What’s the Best Setting?

As a rule of thumb, your plumber will recommend that a tank water heater should be set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit and that a tankless unit should be set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because diseases can’t form in standing water under 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature isn’t high enough to burn human skin.

Tankless water heaters need to be slightly higher because they actively heat water as it passes through rather than while it’s stored in a tank. Know that maintaining safe, lower temperatures will help reduce energy consumption, so you save on your energy bills.

What Are the Dangers of High & Low Temperatures?

There’s always a burn risk with hot water, so you may injure yourself in the shower or when washing your hands. The average human will experience third-degree burns when exposed to water 150 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 seconds. This can also happen at 6 seconds under 140-degree water, and 30 seconds under 130-degree water.

At the very least, hot water can have sunburn-like effects on your skin, leading to itchiness, redness, and even peeling. Dry skin may crack and is more susceptible to infection, so be mindful of how high you’re turning the water temperature.

Long-term exposure to cold water could lead to hypothermia. The low temperature also shocks the body, so blood vessels becomes smaller. The resulting effects could cause heart issues in those with cardiac health problems.

Inspections are an important part of keeping your appliances running, and a plumber at Norhio Plumbing Inc can assist. This Aurora, OH, contractor has served the region for over 40 years, handling residential and commercial plumbing needs. They provide emergency assistance to customers when the unexpected occurs and take every step to keep their systems running. Call (330) 562-9671 to schedule an inspection and visit their website to learn more about the company.