If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the rising temperatures this summer, there’s a crucial mistake that might be heating up your home: having your water temperature set too high.
HVAC professionals caution that this common oversight could be increasing the warmth in your space without you realizing it, leading to unnecessary expenses and forcing your air conditioning to work harder.
Here’s why addressing this issue right away is a key step in maintaining a cool home during the heatwave.
How High Water Temperature Affects Your Home's Heat
Benjamin Uscilla, an HVAC technician and owner of Evergreen Heating & Cooling, points out that many homeowners are unaware that their boiler can raise the temperature of their home in the summer, even when it’s not being used for heating.
When the water temperature is set excessively high, the boiler continues to operate to keep the water hot. “All that heat has to go somewhere,” he explains.
According to Uscilla, this excess heat radiates through the pipes, particularly if they’re not properly insulated, warming up areas like basements, closets, or adjacent finished spaces. Consequently, your air conditioning unit has to work harder to counteract the heat generated by your heating system.
This heating mistake can hinder efforts to lower energy bills, making it one of the top HVAC blunders to avoid during summer.
What You Should Do Instead
Insulating your pipes with foam can effectively prevent heat from transferring into your home.
Fortunately, avoiding this mistake is straightforward. You can explore several strategies to keep your home cool this summer.
Uscilla recommends lowering the boiler temperature in summer to about 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit for domestic hot water.
“If your system has a warm weather shutdown or summer mode, enable it. If not, just adjust the temperature manually. This one adjustment can significantly impact your cooling costs,” he says.
Additionally, he suggests wrapping hot water pipes with Frost King Polyethylene Foam Pipe Insulation available at Walmart.
This insulation helps retain heat within the pipes rather than allowing it to escape into your living spaces. If you have an indirect water heater, consider a mixing valve like the Watts LF70A-F Hot Water Extender Mixing Valve available at Amazon to help manage hot water more efficiently without overworking the boiler.
Recommended Products
All prices were accurate at the time of publication.
Self-sealing adhesive edge
These foam pipe covers come in a pack of six and are pre-slit for easy installation, even on curved pipes.
High accuracy
This precise and easy-to-read hygrometer and thermometer monitors your home’s temperature and features a magnetic back for attaching to the fridge.
Freeze-proof insulation
This insulation tape keeps your home cool in the summer and prevents your pipes from freezing in winter.
90° pivot
If you’re still feeling hot at home, this affordable tabletop fan delivers powerful airflow that you can feel from over 27 feet away.
Easy to clean
This tower fan features 90° oscillation, four modes, an eight-hour timer, touch control, and an LED display.
Four modes
This oscillating table fan offers powerful personal cooling with a quiet operation and a slim design, perfect for your workspace at home.
Meet Our Expert
With over 30 years in the HVAC sector, Benjamin Uscilla is the owner of Evergreen Heating & Cooling. He specializes in energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions, assisting homeowners and businesses in enhancing comfort and efficiency. His extensive knowledge and hands-on approach have established him as a reliable authority in the field.
Remember, adjusting your water heater is just one of the things you should do during a heatwave. There are various expert tips, such as using curtains strategically, that can help you maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.
