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Nothing beats the discomfort of stepping out of a cozy shower only to be greeted by a cold bathroom, except maybe a shower that offers only two extreme temperatures—scalding or freezing—unless the knob is dialed in precisely. Wondering why finding your ideal shower temp feels so elusive? In the video below, SciShow's Stefan Chin explains the complexities of home plumbing and shares tips for preventing your shower from going from warm bliss to icy shock.
According to Chin, with home water heaters, 'adding really hot water to cold water shifts the temperature more dramatically than adding an equal amount of warm water.' He elaborates, 'If the water is too hot, even small variations in the amount of hot water flowing through can cause drastic temperature changes in the mix hitting your skin.'
He also mentions, 'Water heaters typically store water at a high temperature, usually around 50°C [about 122°F], to prevent bacterial growth.'
Some smaller water heaters just can't store enough hot water for a long shower, and many plumbing systems aren't built to regulate the balance between hot and cold water effectively.
A hot shower is one of the simplest yet most universal pleasures, so you likely don't want to waste your relaxation time adjusting the temperature. (Plus, many creative thinkers claim their best ideas emerge when they're relaxed and lathered up—something nearly impossible if you're being blasted with cold water.) Fortunately, Chin has some tips for optimizing your shower experience, which you can discover in the video below.
