Water heater insulation is a great way to increase the efficiency of your water heater and make it green. However, you may be thinking why exactly do you need to green your water heater? The answer is that water heating accounts for around 16% of your home’s energy consumption which is only second to the HVAC systems. According to the Energy star ® even though you use the water from your water heater infrequently i.e. for washing hands, and bathing etc, your water heater is always turned on and heating water so that its ready on demand. If you touch the tank and it feels warm then it’s probably a good idea to insulate and that's where water heater blankets are a great investment.
The good news is that you can slash the energy consumption of water heater fairly easily. You can use a water heater blanket to wrap around the water heater in order to reduce the energy wasted by heat escaping from the heater. With the use of a blanket, you can save as much as 9% on heating. A reflective foil can also be used.
The water heater blanket reviews indicate that the best ones have an R value of at least 5.0. If you can get one that has a higher R value the better. Part of what needs to be considered is how much insulation the hot water tank itself has. This should be listed on the tank.
Blankets are a pretty cheap way to insulate your water heater because they cost under $20 and can be purchased from any local hardware store. The Thermwell Products Co. SP57/67 Owens Corning Water Heater Insulation for instance, retails for $14 .
Frost King makes a water heater insulation blanket that measures 75” by 48 “ by 3 “. It is designed for up to a 60 gallon tank. The blanket itself is three inches thick. The manufacturers model number is SP57/11C . It has Eco Options and includes vinyl tape.
The MD Building Products 4663 R-6.7 Water Heater Insulation Blanket is priced at under $21.00. The M-D Building Products Company also carries an R5 water heater blanket –no.04671. It is backed in white vinyl and the blanket itself is made of fiberglass. It works on oil, electric or gas heaters.
P.s Mfg. also carries a Water Heater Blanket Jacket for a 60 gallon size electric, oil or gas water heater. It can also be cut to fit 40 and 50 gallon models. It comes with vinyl tape and is vinyl faced. It measures 3 inches by 48 inches by 75 inches. It is rated the highest at R11.