I recently installed a commercial-grade AO Smith 50-gallon hot water tank, and I have the upper and lower temperature settings at around 135°F. We also have a Caleffi mixing valve installed in our condo complex, which is currently set to the max hot setting. Despite this, the water being delivered is only around 110°F. Is this temperature difference typical? How can I adjust the settings to achieve an output temperature of about 120°F? Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
For specific plumbing issues, you might want to check out specialized forums like AskAPlumber or Plumbing, as they can provide detailed advice tailored to your situation.
It sounds like you might be losing some heat somewhere. Ideally, your water heater should be set to at least 140°F to prevent legionella bacteria growth, and the mix should be around 120°F for safety against scalding. Have you checked where the water temperature dips? Most mixing valves have a thermometer that can help you pinpoint where the drop in temperature occurs.
What’s the temperature of the water entering the mixing valve? If you're unsure how to check that, it can be tricky since you might only have access to the dials on your heater. It could be useful to track the temps at all points to see where the heat loss is happening.