Does Wrapping A Water Heater Save Money

Water heater blankets have been around since the 1970s. They were designed to assist conserve free energy and reduce heating costs. They were used in many homes at this time and became a household staple.

Merely how constructive were they? Y'all may be asking yourself, 'are water heater blankets worth the money'? Let's detect out.

Do water heater blankets save coin?H2o heater blankets can reduce energy loss past 25% to 45%! A h2o heater blanket is a good investment (saving you an average of seven% to 17%) and will pay for itself in the long run.

Those are fascinating statistics. This commodity will explain what a water heater blanket is and dive into those stats again. We volition then look at how to install a water heater blanket and other ways to reduce water heating costs. Let's get started.

What is a Water Heater Blanket?

Before we go into what exactly a water heater blanket is, let'due south first examine water heaters and how they work. A water heater is a tank of h2o heated to a specific temperature, somewhere around 140 degrees Fahrenheit, on average.

When you plow on the hot water tap, the water being drawn from the tank is used and replaced with cold water. Information technology requires a meaning amount of energy to keep the water in the tank hot, regardless of whether information technology is being used. This energy is e'er escaping into the environs that surrounds the tank.

All h2o heaters are equipped with some insulation level to aid proceed the heat inside the tank—the newer the model, the amend the insulation. Water heater blankets were marketed in the 1970s to help older heating units retain warmth and energy.

A h2o heater coating (too known as an insulation coating) is just what information technology sounds like! It is a blanket that wraps around a water heater to forbid oestrus loss and maintain an accurate, consistent temperature. It is made of sheet plastic, foil, or fiberglass and fastened directly to the heating unit. They are easy to install, requiring only a few tools such as a tape measure and utility knife!

The average cost of a heating blanket is effectually $20 to $forty. They are rated according to their 'R' value, just like other forms of insulation. The ones with the R-10 or R-11 rating are highly-recommended. Heating blankets are readily available at online retailers, such every bit Amazon.com, and (best of all) can be delivered correct to your forepart door in as little as two days!

Are Water Heater Blankets Effective?

Equally mentioned to a higher place, water heater blankets lower energy bills past reducing standby heat loss anywhere from 25% to 45%. This tin can save you approximately vii% to 17% in heating costs! By this standard, the coating has already paid for itself inside a twelvemonth of installation.

Not just do these blankets save energy and money, but they also continue the water at a consistently hot temperature. Investing in a water heater blanket is a practiced idea for homes with heating units x to 12 years old. After 12 years, however, it is recommended to replace the unit of measurement with a newer model.

H2o heater blankets are not suited for hybrid water heaters that are typically installed indoors or within garages.

Nigh h2o heater blankets tin can be cut to fit whatever h2o heater size you take.

Do Y'all Need a Water Heater Blanket?

Water heater blankets are recommended for homes in frigid regions (fundamental or northern provinces or states) if they are located outside the home (such every bit in a garage or an outdoor closet) or in an unfinished basement.

The greater the departure in temperature between the unit itself and the surrounding area, the more standby heat loss. This results in both wasted energy and college heating bills.

Depending on the water heater's age (12 years or older), it is sometimes ameliorate to replace it with a newer model that is likely to be more toll- and energy-efficient over time! If the water heater is around 8 to 12 years onetime and in good condition, effort using a h2o heater blanket.

What is the All-time Water Heater Blanket?

One ofAmazon's Choice picks for water heater blankets includesU.s.a. Free energy Products Water Heater Coating Insulation Wrap. It fits 20 to eighty-gallon tanks. It is lightweight (under 6 pounds) and features a superior 10R design, making it highly effective at saving free energy. Like shooting fish in a barrel to install, this blanket is durable and comes with an easy-to-follow instruction transmission.

How to Install a Water Heater Blanket?

Installing a water heater blanket is easier than you may call up. All you need are the post-obit items:

Water heater blanket
Insulation tape
Utility knife
Grit mask
Work gloves
Black marker

There are 8 simple steps to installing a water heater blanket, which includes the post-obit:

Step One

Turn off your water heater. If you lot have an electric heater, so plow off the breaker. If you have a gas water heater, turn the gas valve to the pilot position.

Step Two

Clear the work area around the h2o heater, so you have room to work. Water heater blankets are large and require space to motion for proper installation.

Pace Three

Take the h2o heater blanket out of the packet and lay information technology out on the flooring. Put on your sunset mask (and protective eyewear, if possible) and gloves earlier you begin to avoid fiberglass irritation.

Pace Iv

Measure your water heater's summit and cut the coating (with the utility knife) to fit accordingly, if necessary. The coating should not extend past the summit of the water heater, so do not wrap it over the edges. This could be a safety risk if the vent on the top of a gas unit is covered or blocked.

Pace Five

Wrap the blanket around your h2o heater. You may need someone to help you at this point—Record the coating in place, for at present.

Step 6

Feel around the coating to find the areas where the controls are. Circle them with the black marker, remove the blanket, and cut them out with the utility knife. Electric water heaters have two panels on the tank's side, whereas gas heaters have valves and a burner.

Be sure to cutting the openings at least one inch wider than the controls. Don't forget to mark the pressure relief valve and the piping as well.

Step 7

Put the blanket back onto the water heater, making sure the cut-out areas line upwards with the panels, valves, burners, and pipes. Record the blanket permanently into identify.

Stride Eight

Once the blanket is taped into place, practice a concluding inspection of the installation. Turn the water heater breaker back on. Keep in mind your water heater coating will need to be removed for water heater maintenance or service.

What are Other Ways to Reduce Water Heating Costs?

In improver to a water heating coating, other ways to reduce h2o heating costs in your home include:

insulating the hot water pipes
lowering the tank temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
installing timers that turn off your water heater at night
installing depression-flow faucets and showerheads
taking shorter showers instead of baths
placing basement or garage heaters on large Styrofoam pads
washing clothes in common cold water whenever possible
investing in a new h2o heater every ten to 12 years
using your dishwasher only when total and on shorter launder cycles
non letting the water run when you do dishes or wash your hands
fixing faucet leaks immediately
installing heat traps on your water heater

Conclusion

In decision, a water heater coating (or insulation blanket) wraps around a water heater to preclude oestrus loss and maintain an authentic, consistent temperature. Information technology is made of canvas plastic, foil, or fiberglass and attached directly to the heating unit. There is a variety to choose from online at Amazon.com.

Water heater blankets can reduce energy loss by 25% to 45%! This can save you lot approximately 7% to 17% in heating costs in a year, which is reasonably substantial. Based on this assumption, a water heater blanket will pay for itself!

They are recommended for homes with older heating units in extremely cold areas or if the unit of measurement is located in an unfinished basement or outside the home, such as in a garage or an outdoor closet.

Water heater blankets are cost-effective and free energy-efficient. They are durable, easy to install, and readily available. Consider investing in one today. Not only is it practiced for your pocketbook but the environment as well. Good luck and store smart!

Source: https://homeinspectioninsider.com/do-water-heater-blankets-save-money/

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