Hot water facts 

• Personal Hygiene - Temperatures commonly used for personal hygiene are 98^o-102^o and the comfort range is very narrow. Someone comfortable at 102^o would be very uncomfortable at 104^o. Federal Law limits Jacuzzi and Spa heaters to 104^o.
• Dishes - Dishwashers normally have their own internal heating elements. It is not the temperature of the water but the combination of the hot water and the soap that kills germs. Remember that water hot enough to kill germs would have to be heated to 212^o (boiling water), which no home appliance is permitted to do for safety reasons.
• Clothes - Clothing is normally washed in cold or warm water. Hot water causes clothing to shrink and fade.

What to expect

Tankless water heaters do not work in the same way as a conventional water heater. Tankless water heaters heat water to the temperature that is required for personal hygiene purposes and not to 120^o-140^o like a conventional water heater. The only reason a conventional water heater 'superheats' water to 120^o-140^o is so that the limited volume of water they hold can be extended by mixing it with cold water. Not only does this waste energy by heating the water and then cooling it again, but it increases the possibility that a child or elderly family member will scald themselves accidentally. The process of 'superheating' the water is not necessary with a tankless water heater because it produces an unlimited supply of hot water.

We suggest that when a tankless water heater is installed it is adjusted so that those who like the hottest shower in the home are comfortable with the mixing valve be set to maximum hot. If you have a thermometer in the house, the temperature of the shower should be at about 104^o. This effectively eliminates the waste of energy associated with heating water to a temperature greater than that which is necessary for personal use. It also eliminates the possibility of scalding injuries.

Each time you use hot water a tankless water heater goes through a 15-30 second cycle to regulate the temperature of the water to the setting on the thermostat. It will fluctuate from very hot to cool to just right. When you turn on your shower or a faucet, you will only use your hot water valve. Don't expect the water to get as hot as it did before you installed the tankless water heater, because it will already be adjusted so you will not have to mix cold water with it. 

A tankless water heater is not an 'instant water heater'. It will not reduce the time it takes for the hot water to reach your point of use. The only way to do this is to install the tankless water heater closer to the point of use. However, if this is your goal, the size of the SETS Tankless Water Heater allows it to be installed almost anywhere.