« Reply #42 on: September 18, 2018, 11:15:16 PM »
Water turns to steam above 212 degrees F at sea level. You need pressure to get hotter than that--it's why a pressure cooker cooks a pork roast in 30 minutes.
If your examples are taking 240 degree showers, they are pressure steaming the skin right off themselves.
There is a pressure/temperature gradient that indicates how much temperature is increased with each pound of pressure, but I am unable to bring it to mind at the moment, and too lazy to research it.
Still, your point about hot water heaters is certainly valid.
Crusader Rabbit
You're absolutely right. I have no clue about actual numbers of the pressure/temperature gradient, just an idea how it works. I actually typed 210 degrees, then went more extreme to emphasize the ridiculousness of needing an additional water heater, to heat already hot water even more. When I changed it to 240 degrees I didn't know that pressure cookers can get up to 248 degrees. As of 5 minutes ago I do. It's almost like I knew what I was talking about.
P.S. This is for everyone. If you go on vacation for more than 3 days, you shouldn't have hot water in your cold water heater by the time you return. I don't normally turn mine down except when I take off for a week or more, which doesn't happen often. The energy savings you get for only keeping the water warm is worth the the short wait to have a hot shower. Mine always gets hot again faster than I can get things unpacked.
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