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Should I Turn up My Water Heater During Winter?

If it often seems like it’s harder to get that shower good and hot as the temperature drops outside, it’s not your imagination; this really can happen. But with a few adjustments to your thermostat, you can keep your showers nice and warm all winter long.

Handling this correctly requires some attention to detail, but thankfully those details aren’t especially difficult to complete.

Cold Air and Cold Ground

When we think of the winter season, we most often consider how cold the outside air feels when we leave our homes in the morning, but it’s important to remember that the ground grows incredibly cold as well as the air temperature drops below freezing. Since the pipes delivering clean, fresh water to your home are underground, the water entering your water heater is much colder in the first place, meaning it has to work harder to heat the water to your desired temperature.

As you use that hot water, more extra-cold water enters the heater, thus cooling the entire batch all over again. Older water heaters in particular have a tough time maintaining the proper temperature as new water cycles into the unit.

How to Prepare Your Water Heater for Winter

Most plumbers will recommend setting your water heater temperature at 120 degrees for the majority of the year, which really is perfect during nice weather as it keeps the water in your showers and sinks warm without causing scalding. However, we recommend turning the thermostat to 125 or 130 degrees if the weather outside is exceptionally cold, though if you have children or elderly people living in the home, consider erring on the lower end of this spectrum for the purpose of safety.

Electric water heaters often have the temperature control inside the unit itself, which requires tools to alter. If you have an electric heater and need help adjusting the temperature for winter, just give us a call here at GPS Plumbing and we’ll be happy to come out and set your water heater to your desired temperature.

Other Possible Causes for Cold Water in Winter

In some instances, turning up the thermostat won’t be enough, in which case you may require water heater repair. Potential problems include sediment buildup or poorly-insulated pipes. If you have a feeling that the issue with your water temperature goes beyond just the cold weather outside and may require plumbing services, give us a call at GPS Plumbing and we will help diagnose and correct the problem.

One way or another, you’ll end up with the ideal water temperature even in the colder months. In most cases, it really does just require a slight turn of the thermostat knob on your water heater!

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