Without proper insulation, your water heater is probably losing heat, costing you a bundle each month in wasted energy. The best way to remedy this problem is by installing water heater insulation.

Determining whether or not your water heater needs insulation is as simple as touching it with your hand. If the tank feels warm to the touch, it means that heat is escaping. Adding water heater insulation can reduce this heat loss, saving you money on your energy costs as a result.

The easiest way to insulate a water heater is by using a pre-cut insulation blanket kit from your local home improvement store. These water heater insulation kits are usually quite affordable and can pay for themselves through energy savings over time.

If you have an electric water heater, installing the insulating blanket is a fairly straightforward process that you can probably handle on your own. For safety, before you begin take note of the following precautions:

• If you are adding an insulating blanket to your water heater, make sure that the temperature is set no higher than 130 degrees. Any hotter than that can lead to problems with the wiring overheating.
• Check your owner’s manual to make sure it’s safe to install an insulating blanket on your particular water heater. Some models cannot tolerate them. If in doubt, contact the manufacturer of your water heater directly to make sure it’s OK before proceeding.
• Make sure that your water heater is not leaking before installing the insulating blanket.

The installation process usually involves cutting the blanket to fit around any pipes, then using tape and belts to secure it to the tank. For the best results, follow the instructions that come with the insulating kit that you purchase.

If you have a gas water heater, it’s usually best to leave the insulating process to a professional since it’s more complicated (and potentially more hazardous) to work on gas models than electric ones.

If you live in the Dallas area and would like to learn more about saving money with water heater insulation, contact us at Crawford Services Inc.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!