You know you can save energy by bundling up and turning down the thermostat a few degrees in winter. But did you know you could also save energy by wrapping up your water heater? Insulating a water heating unit keeps the heat inside the tank in cold weather.
Insulating the hot water tank is easy and inexpensive. Most newer water heaters are already adequately insulated. Check older water heaters for an insulation R-value of at least 24. If it's lower, the tank should be insulated. Pre-cut jackets or blankets are available at a relatively low cost. Some utility companies sell them for a good price, or offer rebates for installing them.
Before you start your project, make sure your tank is not leaking. If it is, you need a new water heater. When you're ready to start, turn the water heater off: for gas heaters, turn the valve to "Pilot"; for electric heaters, switch off the breaker on the electric panel.
Need more information on how to save money with your water heater and other appliances? Contact Russell's Heating and Cooling, serving the Hampton Roads area of Southeast Virginia. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas 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 Guide or call us at 757-750-1831. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “geralt/Pixabay”