How Do I Make My Shower Water Hotter

You can use lukewarm or cold water to take a shower in summers but hot water is important for winters. It provides you with a comfortable showering experience and helps your body to relax.

But what should you do if your shower water isn’t hot enough according to your preferences? There are several ways to solve this problem, and in this article, we’ll discuss them in detail.

How Do I Make My Shower Water Hotter

You can use the following tips if you want to make your shower water hotter than what it currently offers. 

Increase Water Heater Temperature

The easiest and most obvious way to make your shower water hotter is to increase your water heater’s temperature.

Gas Heater

If you have a gas water heater in your house, you’ll need to use the temperature dial located on its outer side. Keep in mind that different gas heaters come with different temperature settings. 

It means you might need to turn the dial clockwise or counterclockwise to increase the temperature. Consider reading the user’s manual of your water heater to find the correct method for temperature adjustments.

Electric Heater

Electric heaters come with two panels and you’ll need to use the steps listed below to adjust their temperature.

1. Turn off the electricity supply to your electric water heater.
2. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws from both top and bottom panel covers. Now you’ll see insulation on both panels. The thermostats are located underneath that insulation.
3. Lift up the insulation of the top panel to access the thermostat.
4. On the bottom side of the thermostat, you see a small dial set to a specific temperature. You’ll need to use a flathead screwdriver to turn the dial clockwise/counterclockwise (depending on your model) to increase the temperature.
5. Now repeat the same step for the bottom panel of your electric heater. But make sure that you keep it three to five degrees lower than the top thermostat. It’ll allow both elements to heat water evenly.
6. Press the insulation sheets gently to their places and secure both panel covers using screws.

Adjust Scald Guard of Mixing Valve

If your water heater is already set to a high temperature, you’ll need to adjust the scald guard of your shower’s mixing valve. It’s one of the most effective ways to make your shower water hotter and here’s how you can achieve that.

1. Shut off the water supply to your bathroom.
2. Wear a pair of rubber gloves for safety purposes.
3. Depending on your shower handle’s model, use a screwdriver or Allen wrench to remove the handle’s set screw. If your handle has a metal lever, you’ll find the screw on the bottom side of its nose. If you have a simple rounded handle, you’ll need to remove the index button to access the screw.
4. After unscrewing the screw, use your hand to remove the shower handle gently.
5. Now you’ll see the mixing valve along with the temperature control.
6. Most valves have a screw to secure that temperature control. If you have such a model, you’ll need to remove that screw. However, some models don’t have that screw and you can adjust the temperature control easily.
7. The temperature control will have a circular plastic dial (limiter ring) with hot and cold markings. Remove that limiter ring from its housing using your hand or pliers.
8. The limiter ring’s housing will also have a small arm, called a limit stop. You’ll need to turn the ring counterclockwise or clockwise and insert it in the housing so that the limit stop is right in the middle of hot and cold marking. You can turn it more if you want even hotter water.
9. Now reinstall everything that you removed.

Turning the limiter ring will provide the shower handle with more leeway to turn more towards the hot side. As a result, more hot water will reach the showerhead and your shower water will become hotter

Insulate Hot Water Pipes

If your hot water pipe goes outside before it reaches your bathroom, it’ll turn the hot water lukewarm or cold. It’s especially true if you live in an area with a colder climate.

In such a case, the best thing you can do is to insulate your hot water pipes. You can use insulating pipe wrap to cover your hot water pipes.

Upgrade Your Water Heater

Using a small water heater is another reason why you don’t get hot water in your shower. For example, if your family consists of five people and you’re using a 30 or 40-gallon water heater, your shower will often run lukewarm or cold water because of high water consumption.

You’ll need to use a water heater with at least 60 gallons of capacity (or more) for a family of five. Additionally, an old water heater can also cause the same problem. The average lifespan of a water heater can be anywhere between eight to 20 years. 

So, a two-decade-old water heater won’t be able to heat water efficiently. In such a case, you’ll need to invest in a new water heating system for hotter shower water.

FAQs

What is the Safe Temperature to Shower In?

Generally, a water temperature up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit is considered safe. However, the ideal temperature to shower in is 98 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, according to experts.

Why Is My Shower Water Not Hot?

If all the faucets in your house offer hot water except the shower, then the problem is in the scald guard of your shower’s mixing valve. It’s allowing more cold water to pass than hot water and you’ll need to adjust it using the method discussed above.

Final Words

Taking a shower under a stream of hot water is a relaxing and comfortable experience. If your shower water isn’t as hot as you want, try the tips listed in this guide to make it hotter.

Make sure that you don’t set your water heater’s temperature to more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, especially if you have kids in your house. This way you will avoid skin burns and keep yourself and your family safe.