Insulating your water heater is a quick and easy way to save money. Since it sits tucked away in the basement or closet, it is easy to forget, but an inefficient water heater can cost you. Insulating cuts the cost of running the unit by as much as 9 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This straightforward DIY project will pay for itself when you save energy dollars.
Checking the water heater
If the water heater feels warm to the touch, it is wasting energy. Sensors monitor the temperature of the water in the storage tank. If it dips too low, the heat comes on to correct the problem. Adding an insulating blanket will improve the performance by holding the heat in and keeping the thermostat accurate as well.
Insulating blanket
Covering the water heater with a fiberglass insulating blanket is probably easier than you think. The project should take less than an hour to complete. The first step is to purchase a water heater insulation kit. Once you have the blanket, you must customize it to fit your model heater. Read the directions on the kit for installation and safety information. Here are a few things to remember:
- Use a detergent-based cleaner to wipe off the top of the water heater. Application requires the use of an adhesive that will not stick if the area is dirty. Avoid using solvents that may be flammable. Dish-washing soap is a proper cleaning product, for example.
- If you have an electric heater, avoid covering the heating element control or power source.
- For gas heaters, avoid obstructing the vents on the top of the unit or the airflow to the pilot light.
- Don’t forget the pipes going into and out of the heater. Cover them with insulating sleeves.
It is the little things you do around the house such as insulating the water heater that save energy dollars. Contact us for a complete energy evaluation of your home. Aladdin Heating & Cooling proudly services residents of Southeast Michigan.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about saving energy dollars and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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