Hot water is a modern luxury that homeowners take for granted. It's important that you become familiar with the ins and outs of your water heater if you want to continue accessing a ready supply of hot water.

The temperature setting on your water heater is one component that you should monitor regularly. Reducing the temperature of your water heater can provide you with a number of benefits that will prove useful over time.

1. Improve Safety

The temperature setting on your water heater is directly linked to your family's safety. Many water heaters are pre-set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit when they are delivered from the factory. This temperature could be too high if you have sensitive skin or small children in your home.

Experts say that it only takes 3 seconds of exposure to 140-degree water for scalding injuries to occur. By turning down the temperature setting on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, you will significantly reduce the potential for hot-water-related injuries in your home.

2. Reduce Sediment Buildup

Sediment is something that has the potential to shorten the lifespan of your water heater and cause it to function less over time. The minerals that are found in most municipal water supplies can begin to accumulate inside a water heater.

Eventually, sediment buildup can cause corrosion that will permanently damage your water heater. A significant amount of sediment can also interfere with the function of the heating element.

Reducing the temperature on your water heater can reduce the amount of sediment that is deposited over time by also reducing the evaporation rate of the water within your water heater.

3. Save Money

If you are looking for a simple way to reduce your household expenses, turning down the temperature setting on your water heater could be the answer.

Modern water heaters rely on either electricity or natural gas to operate. Reducing the amount of energy required to heat your home's water can translate into significant savings.

Statistics show that you can expect a 6-10% reduction in your monthly utility costs when you lower your water heater temperature by just 20 degrees. 

Don't let your water heater become a source of stress in the future.

Have an experienced plumber help you lower the temperature setting on your water heater to enhance safety, and other plumbing services to extend the life of the appliance and reduce your monthly energy costs over time.