Is your hot water too hot?

Now that you have tuned up your refrigerator and freezer temperatures, how about tuning down your water heater?

Heating water accounts for 19 percent of a household's energy bill. Hot water should be set to no more than 120ºF to avoid scalding and heat loss.

Recommended water temperature: 120ºF (48.9ºC)

How to measure the water temperature
Measure the hot water temperature at the faucet that is the closest to your water heater, that is, where the hot water travels the shortest distance from the water heater.

Pour hot water in a container, plunge a water-proof thermometer, and wait until it stabilizes before reading the temperature. If you have to dial down the water heater's setting, wait 24 hours before performing a new measurement.

Other tips for saving energy
Providing adequate insulation around your water tank and pipes will help you keep hot water hot.

Buying guide
If you are about to buy a new water heater, you should consider one of the following options, as recommended by ENERGY STAR:

• Whole home gas tankless water heater
• Heat pump water heater
• Gas condensing water heater
• Solar water heater
• High-efficiency gas storage water heater