What temperature

ecoelle

Hi, i'm trying to reduce my gas usage and want to turn down the temperature on my hot water tank. This is where a lot of our gas is going i think, the only thing is i'm not sure what temperature to turn it down to. I was told that if it's too low then bacteria can grow in the water and it makes it unsafe. I have a big hot water tank, one of the old style rather than a combi boiler. At the moment we have the hot water on for 1 hour a day from 5am to 6am, this gives us water for washing and cleaning for the whole day, i very rarely have to put it on again and it stays hot all day right through til 10pm if i want a late bath. I want to know though that i'm not wasting energy and so as the water seems to be extremely hot when i turn on the taps am i heating it too much? and what's safe to turn it down to? Cheers in advance
Elle

ecoelle

Oh, i've just checked and at the moment the little dial on the side of the tank is between 65 and 70. Thanks

jimexbox

Have a read of this clicky, paying particular attention to the last paragraph.

ecoelle

Thank you Jimexbox, so if i'm reading it right i could turn it down to 60 and the water would still be safe. Cheers, i'm off to turn the dial down!

jimexbox

ecoelle wrote: »

Thank you Jimexbox, so if i'm reading it right i could turn it down to 60 and the water would still be safe. Cheers, i'm off to turn the dial down!

Yes, that's what my hot water tank is set at, 60c. Any more and you are paying more just to cool it down again.

You can save serious money buy buying a woolly jumper and turning your heating thermostat down and using a summer quilt in the evenings on the settee.

ecoelle

I try not to use central heating as it gives me a headache, but i don't think we have a thrmostat for it? I invested in big sweatshirts last year and get rolled eyes every time i tell my blokey to put one on when he whinges that he is cold! But the low bills may help to make him feel better about this!

Swipe

So what temperature do you maintain your sitting room at in winter. In spring summer I can happily sit comfortably at 18C but in the winter I seem to feel the cold more and would rather maintain it at 20C. I'm happy for my hallways, kitchen and bedroom to be 16C.

Canucklehead

ecoelle wrote: »

I try not to use central heating as it gives me a headache, but i don't think we have a thrmostat for it? I invested in big sweatshirts last year and get rolled eyes every time i tell my blokey to put one on when he whinges that he is cold! But the low bills may help to make him feel better about this!

Good evening: if you want reduce your gas consumption get heating controls installed and take advantage of the grants available for insulation etc.

HTH

Canucklehead