What could be more relaxing than curling up on your sofa and reading a book in your cozy space during winter evenings? Absolutely nothing!
Imagine it’s mid-January, you’ve returned from work to relax in your cozy space after a tiring day, and the boiler isn’t heating the water. Of course, it doesn’t sound like a pleasant situation, particularly during the winter season.
Now, if that sounds similar and you’re wondering what’s wrong with your boiler, we suggest taking a look at its temperature settings. While the temperature of the boiler shouldn’t be too low, it mustn’t get close to the boiling point either.
So, if you are wondering what the ideal hot water boiler temperature settings are, you’re at the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the nitty-gritty of the temperature settings of a water boiler.
Table of Contents
What Temperature Should A Hot Water Boiler Be At?
Of course, every homeowner installs a hot water heater or boiler to keep themselves warm during those chilly months. Naturally, if hot water heaters or boilers fail to provide you with hot water or heat your home, it is frustrating.
So, if you’re faced with such an unpleasant situation, we suggest you check the temperature of the boiler without calling a professional. That’s because most of the time, you can adjust the temperature of the boiler the DIY way by simply using its controls.
While the control of industrial or commercial boilers is tricky, residential steam boilers are easy to handle. More often than not, modern boilers feature a digital dial that makes it easy for homeowners to set the temperature as required.
With combi-boilers, 167 degrees Fahrenheit is the maximum temperature for the radiators, while the hot water temperature should be between 122 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Note that if you tamper with this setting, it may affect the efficiency of your boiler.
It goes without saying that the higher the temperature is, the faster your boiler will heat your home and, of course, the water. Nevertheless, we suggest you set the radiator output to 176 degrees Fahrenheit. But if you own a gas-powered boiler, then its temperature should be set at 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
On the other hand, if you’ve got a conventional boiler system installed in the house, you’ll find a thermostat on the side of the tank. The temperature of this type of boiler should be set between 140 and 149 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, if you want to increase the efficiency of the boiler, set the temperature to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or you might contract Legionnaires’ disease.
Factors That Affect The Hot Water Temperature
Did you turn on the switch of the steam boiler an hour ago, but it’s cold water that’s coming out of the faucet? Well, there are a few factors that might be tampering with the performance of your boiler. Let’s take a look at them.
Installation Of Pipes
One of the reasons why your electric boiler isn’t heating the water properly is due to the distance between the outlet and the water heater. On top of that, the condition of the heating element and the way the pipes are installed affects the temperature setting of a hot water boiler.
Long Distances
If you’ve installed the water heater far from the faucets, then the hot water will invariably take a long time to reach the opening, affecting the temperature of the water. For instance, if the pipes are installed outside the house, the water will be affected by outdoor weather conditions.
Nevertheless, you can deal with this issue by installing a hot water circulating system to ensure that the hot water reaches all the outlets quickly.
Faulty Thermostat
If your hot water heater is heating the water too much or too little, you must check the thermostat settings. And in case you notice unusual settings on the thermostat, calling a professional at the earliest will be the best way forward.
How To Adjust The Temperature Of A Hot Water Boiler
Like heat pumps, air conditioning, and other appliances, a hot water boiler may malfunction to supply too hot or too cold water. However, you can quick-fix this issue by adjusting the boiler settings to get the desired temperature.
Here’s how you can adjust the temperature on your boiler.
Electric Hot Water Boiler
First off, we suggest switching off the electric boiler before removing the metal plate. Since there are wires and other components, make sure you turn it off before adjusting the thermostat. Moreover, some electric hot water heaters have two thermostats, and you would need to adjust them to reach the same temperature.
Oil-Powered Water Heater
For oil-powered heaters, you’ll have to search for the knob, which is usually located on the side of the tank. Once you get the knob, rotate it slightly to adjust the temperature to your liking.
Gas Hot Water Heater
If you own a gas hot water heater, then you’ll have to adjust the temperature by turning the thermostat control. While most gas water heaters have a temperature control button at the bottom, some heaters have it on the back of a metal plate.
When you’ve found the knob, turn it slowly and continue till you reach the right temperature setting.
Factors To Consider When Setting Temperature
Whether you use a gas-powered or electric water heater, the temperature settings on almost all boilers are the same. However, there are two factors that you must consider when setting its temperature.
Firstly, if anyone at your home is vulnerable to third-degree burns, make sure you set the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is also recommended for those who stay alone at their place, as the demand for hot water will be less.
Secondly, setting the temperature of the boiler to 140 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended for large families, as there will be more demand for hot water. However, you can decrease it if you’re worried about racking up the electricity bills.
Overheating Of Hot Water Boiler
Since a hot water boiler is an electric appliance, overheating issues aren’t uncommon. For instance, if the temperature gauge on the water boiler shows a reading of 220 degrees Fahrenheit, then the water tank can burst. Naturally, overheating will result in leaking, which is why it’s important to pay attention to the temperature of a water boiler.
Other than that, there will be an upsurge in the water pressure throughout the plumbing system. And unremedied rust or corrosion can make the problem worse.
In the event of overheating, we suggest you avoid taking matters into your hand and contact a professional plumber or a repair technician at the earliest. This will prevent accidents and keep your property safe from damage
Summing It Up
So, that’s all we had for this guide. And now that you know the nitty-gritty of hot water boiler temperature settings, we are sure you’ll be able to set it without any difficulty.
But before we bring down the curtains, here’s the last tip – keep in handy the contact details of the best plumbing company in your area for emergencies. And it will be better if you call a professional for regular maintenance of the boiler, so you need not worry about its efficiency and performance in the long run.
Need professional help when it comes to boiler installation, maintenance or repair? Look for the nearest boiler technician in your neighborhood.