Of course, changing the temperature may be the least appealing thing for you on your agenda for Tuesday. Anyway, this procedure will ensure both your safety and economy. As it was said by many experts, the best temperature of the hot water must be set at 120°F. It means that neither scalding nor multiplying of bacteria will take place in the tank.

As far as the safety concerns, the procedure will be quite important. One must be extremely careful while working with gas lines and electricity. In case you have the gas water heater, all you need to do is locate the dial at the bottom of the tank. Usually, it has some such positions as Warm, Hot, and Very Hot. Still, it is recommended to ignore these terms and turn the dial a bit lower from the middle position.

In case you have the electric water heater, the procedure will be a little bit complicated. First, you will probably need a screwdriver to remove the access panel and locate the thermostat dial under the insulating material. Remember about the wires, as the contact with them can give you a rather unpleasant shock.

Still, anyway, after turning the dial, you need to wait for a few hours and only then check the temperature of the water. It can be done with the help of a meat thermometer on the tap of the sink. Let the hot water flow for a minute and measure its temperature. In case it equals 120°F, you did everything right.

Still, in case there is something wrong with the dial and it is very old and even looks antique, better do not try to make it work. Old valves may break and flood your basement. If you have no experience in it, it is better to call a professional plumber.