Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Adjusting a Gas Water Heater
• Method 2 of 3: Adjusting the Electric Water Heater
• Method 3 of 3: Checking the water temperature
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Lack of hot water in your home can make bathing, washing dishes, and other household chores difficult. If your home has a water heater that does not always cope with heating the water, try adjusting the temperature. If you roughly imagine the device of a gas or electric water heater, this should not cause any particular difficulties. By taking these precautions, you can quickly adjust the water heating temperature.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Adjusting a Gas Water Heater

1. 1 Before adjusting the gas water heater, make sure that there are no sources of fire in the house. Although you will not come into direct contact with natural gas, it is best to play it safe as it is highly flammable. When adjusting the equipment, do not light candles, cigarettes or other sources of flame in the house.
   • There is no need to shut off the gas before starting to adjust the temperature.
2. 2 Find the control knob on the front of the water heater. This knob controls the gas flow. It usually looks like a black or red switch with two settings: warm water and hot water. Sometimes these settings can be marked with tick marks.
3. 3 Turn the knob towards hot water. Do not turn the knob all the way. To begin with, turn it slightly towards hot water. If you set the temperature extremely high, you can get burned. You can always increase the temperature if necessary.
4. 4 Wait 3 hours, then check the water temperature. You must wait at least three hours for the water to heat up. After this time, check the temperature. If the water is still not hot enough, turn the knob a little more.
   • Do not set the temperature above 50 ° C, otherwise you can get severely burned.

Method 2 of 3: Adjusting the Electric Water Heater

1. 1 Turn off the machines in the switchboard that are responsible for the water heater. Open the switchboard and turn off the machines responsible for supplying electricity to the water heater.Most water heaters use approximately 220 volts of electricity, so two switches will need to be turned off. To find the correct switches, refer to the diagram inside the panel. If there is no circuit, turn off all the machines. This is a necessary security measure.
   • Never adjust the electric water heater without de-energizing it. If you do not know how to turn off the electricity in the panel, it is better to contact an electrician, as otherwise you risk getting an electric shock.
2. 2 Remove the protective cover on the case. The cover must be rectangular and must be on the front of the water heater. There can be one or two such covers on the body. Remove them to access the internal control panel.
   • Most often, the cover can be removed by hand. If it is secured with screws, use a screwdriver.
3. 3 Remove the insulation to gain access to the thermostat. There must be a layer of insulation between the cover and the thermostat. Remove it to make it easier for you to adjust the temperature on the thermostat.
   • Place the insulation in a safe place. After setting the temperature, it will need to be placed back into the water heater. Without it, the unit will not be able to maintain a stable water temperature.
4. 4 Increase the temperature of the water on the thermostat. Most thermostats are adjusted with a screw, which should be in the middle. Turn the screw a few notches higher using a flat head screwdriver. Do not set the temperature higher than 50 ° C - the water will be too hot and you may get burned.
   • Some thermostats can heat water up to 85 ° C, but the recommended limit is 50 ° C.
   • Even with two covers, the water heater only needs one thermostat. This is just a design feature.
5. 5 Replace the covers and check the water temperature. Cover the thermostat with insulation and fit the cover. Then turn on the electricity. Wait at least three hours, then check the water temperature. If the water is not hot enough, try adjusting the temperature again.

Method 3 of 3: Checking the water temperature

1. 1 Turn on hot water for 3-5 minutes. Choose a sink closest to the heater and run hot water on it for at least 3 minutes. For the first few minutes, the water that was in the pipes will come out. You need to wait until it flows out, and then you can check the temperature. Only then will you get an accurate measurement.
2. 2 Measure the temperature of the water with a kitchen thermometer. Fill a bowl or glass with water and measure the temperature right away. Keep the thermometer in water for at least 20-30 seconds to get the most accurate measurement.
3. 3 Write down the temperature. The water temperature should not be too high. If it is above 50 ° C, you risk getting burned. Take a look at the following temperature scale, indicating the rate of burns:
   • 50 ° C: 5+ minutes;
   • 50–55 ° C: 60–120 seconds;
   • 55-60 ° C: 5-30 seconds;
   • 60–65 ° C: 1–5 seconds;
   • 65–70 ° C: 1–1 1/2 seconds;
   • from 70 ° C and above: instantly.
4. 4 If necessary, check the temperature again after about 3 hours. If the thermometer shows too low or too high temperature, adjust the water heater again and check the temperature after 3 hours. It will take some time for the water heater to heat the water to the desired temperature.

Tips

• If the water heater often does not heat up the water even though you have adjusted it several times, seek the services of a plumber. Perhaps some part is out of order.

Warnings

• Be careful when adjusting the water heater. Do not touch exposed wires. If you do not know how to properly handle the water heater, call a specialist.
• If the water heater is flooded with water, do not touch it. Call a plumber to assess the danger of the situation and check if the unit is broken.

What do you need

• Flat head screwdriver
• Kitchen thermometer