I have two 50 gal water heaters, and the house is relatively new, so I think they cranked the damn things down - I actually wash with full on - no mix- hot water from the tap. It is pretty hot, but not burning, but doesn't even begin to get and keep the scuttle hot. I am sure in some effort to be energy efficient, the heaters were cranked down...I have been using a tea making water heater to give me boiling water, but I don't want to put my brushes in it till it cools, and it heats the bottom of the scuttle till it is burning to the touch...evaporates lather like nobody's business. I use the water on the towel in a bowl too - have to wait for it to cool (though I have been known to almost scald my face looking for the hot moist goodness).

There is a golden moment in the half-light, when the water is just hot enough without scalding, when the wait is just long enough, the lather is working well, the brush is soaked without fear of curling the hair with burning water, and the razor rises - and my soul is at one with the river, which runs over rocks worn smooth, and on those rocks are their names, "Henckel, Dovo, Revisor..." OKOK- enough silliness, you get the point. That point doesn't happen often, it is rather hit and miss...or nick and gasp, as it were...

I will try to crank the water heater up a bit (now we are getting energy inefficient here boys) - and will try from the tap...that would be so much more convenient.

K