Would that be 120 degrees on the hot water tank or the boiler aquastat control?

What type of heating radiation or convection do you have?

Baseboard,copper fin or cast iron, cast iron radiators, convectors, fan forced convectors, radiant floor, wall or ceiling????

I think they're talking about the domestic hot water zl, at least I hope they are! I'm not as licensed plummer but I heard something about the new codes call for 140 degree water in the appliance whether it be gas, oil or electric and every installation requires a tempering valve to bring it down to 120. Maybe somebody here can enlighten us on that. Where's lazypup? the guys a wealth of knowledge when it comes to stuff like that.

zl, I have no idea what you're talking about. But I trust my plumber, he's kept our home watertight for about ten years, replaced and fixed anything that goes wrong as well as seen us through kitchen and bathroom remodeling. We've had plenty of hot water for showers, dishwashing, clothes washing, and it's been a week.

jannie,
Your question/statement was:
"He set the temperature for the water at 120 degrees. Is this enough to keep us supplied in hot water for showers, laundry and dishes as well as heat for our 1500 sq foot home?"

So is the temp set at 120 to take showers or heat the home or both, because you make it sound like it does both. Perhaps its just me but you state 120 and in the same breath mention water use and heating a home.

My question was to help you decide if 120 degrees could heat your home as you say it gets cold.

To preanswer, unless you have massive amounts of cast iron radiators, have radiant floor or have anouther heat source, 120 degrees on the boiler for heating isnt enough for heating with a 20 degree differential. 120 is the maximum setting for hot water heaters to prevent scalding but not high enough to prevent bacterial growth in the tank.

I'm betting your boiler is set much higher and only your domestic hot water is set to 120, which doesn't give us a clue if your house will be warm in cold NY state.

I'm from Central NY myself and don't care to experience another cold grey winter again. ;-)