If you move into a new home, apartment, or office the last thing on your mind is checking and/or adjusting the temperature of the hot water heater. This is not a priority; however, it should be since your water heater accounts for almost 20% of your home’s energy bill. Having a water heater set too high can increase your monthly bill, setting it too low can put you and your family at risk for bacteria growth. The EPA recommends a temperature of 120 degrees. This temperature is recommended for 3 reasons: