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Bradford White temp

ChrisJ
ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,913
edited September 21 in Domestic Hot Water

I'm just curious why this setting on both mine and my dad's heater which is 10 years older than mine both results in 140f water. They're both essentially the same power vent 50gal heater with the same recirculating setup plumbed the same.

That's what we want...... So that's good. But it seems wrong by today's expectations and "hot".

1000020334.jpg

1000020332.jpg

Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

Comments

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,038
    edited September 21

    I have to agree with you that 140°F is HOT.

    Are you saying that your HOT is different than your father's HOT?

    If your water is too hot, you can try this:

    Screenshot 2025-09-21 at 6.58.33 PM.png

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,913
    edited September 21
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1865635#Comment_1865635

    No,

    My hot and his hot are the same and they both agree with both heater's hots.

    But the rest of the world doesn't, so that's weird.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,038

    I agree that 140° is HOT. I guess you mean that the "rest of the world doesn't" other than me you and your father

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    ChrisJ
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,913
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1865637#Comment_1865637

    Yeah I can go with that.

    Actually if you look, mine isn't even on HOT it's just below it.

    I guess very hot is 190.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,038
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1865638#Comment_1865638

    I would not assign a number to that setting. …which is, in my opinion, the best thermostat designation system on earth.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,913
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1865644#Comment_1865644

    My original reason for posting is id expect that "hot" setting to be 120-ish. Just seemed interesting.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 14,136

    it usually says what the settings are in the manual. residential equipment usually won't go over a setpoint of 140

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,533

    I have found that as well. Most water heaters (gas) that I have seen are usually set on the mid to lower end of the scale

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,913
    1000020345.png

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,991

    So "Hot" should be 120°, but its really 140°. That's why they don't put actual temperature settings on the dial. There's not enough space to add "ish" to each reading.

    EdTheHeaterMan
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,913

    I understand tolerances, cheap thermostats etc.

    I was more hoping to get feedback from those who sell hundreds of these heaters to see if it was typical, or just a complete fluke that two of them lined up perfectly like this.

    It doesn't effect my sleep at night, I'm simply curious.

    Also wondering if it's somehow the recirculating setup, although I can't imagine how.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 25,650

    I think years ago manufacturers changed both the dial readings and also the highest possible temperature setting after a lot of soft tissue lawsuits start happening. I though 140 was about as high as you could set a residential tank now?

    Electric hw tanks used to have temperature numbers, now they show hot, to very hot or something similar.

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 14,136

    The lack of numbers isn't because the thermostat is inaccurate but because stagnation can mean the temp at the outlet can be very different than the temp at the thermostat.

    What is the temp of the recirculation return? If it is below the set point it will cool the thermostat and make the tank hotter.

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,951

    Hi, Even the old gas heaters had temp markings. Not long ago modern thermostats were accurate to within 20 degrees. I've heard more recently it's 30. I've also experienced room temperature affecting temp output of the heater living in that room. So, measure what comes from the tap, or use IR to look at things, but the dial on the heater is nothing but a rough estimation… and try not to lose sleep! 😴

    Yours, Larry

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,913
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1865690#Comment_1865690

    Holy cow…

    I think you hit the nail on the head Matt.

    I'm almost positive both mine and my dad's are set to turn off at roughly 120F.

    I thought it was on at 110, off at 120. That's measured at the short length of copper pipe right at the heater.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 14,136

    this is just a guess but i suspect you have a small system that holds maybe 2 or 3 gallons of water so the recirculation pump comes on, dumps a couple gallons of cold water in the bottom of the tank then stops. It doesn't run long enough to stir up the tank, just long enough to put the cold water from the pipes in front of the t-stat.

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