Health Which way do you turn for hot water? Which way do you turn for hot water? To increase water temperature, either turn the hot water screw counterclockwise or turn the cold water screw clockwise. To decrease water temperature, either turn the hot water screw clockwise or turn the cold water screw counterclockwise. Related Posts:State select water heaters can have problemsTroubleshooting state select electric water heater can be difficult.How to fix a loose faucet handle on your kitchen sinkWhy is my water heating unit making a sound?There are a number of reasons why your SAMSUNG Dryer is not heating.