Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater

RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post by terdralynn (95) | (09/07/2005) Contact I had considered wrapping mine, since it's in an unheated basement, but the water heater itself has a warning in big, bold letters not to use one. Are they maybe hoping my heating element burns itself out trying to keep the water warm or what? TerryfromChilliOH RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post By suzi homemaker (Guest Post) (09/07/2005) We have done this with the last 3 houses we have owned. They make a blanket especially for this. About 10 years ago it was about $20 at Lowe's. Our builder of our first home told us about this and so we have always done it. RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post By Ann (Guest Post) (09/07/2005) They sell the blankets at Home Depot or Lowe's. They are made just for the purpose so they will know what you are talking about. We have used one for years. Our hot water heater is in the unheated garage. I don't know how much of a difference it will make because we got it as soon as we moved in. I don't know if using one helped our hot water heater last longer but we have a neighborhood well that leaves lots of hard water stains in my sinks and toilets. But my hot water heater lasted for 16 years.....makes me wonder if the blanket helped it not work so hard...saw quite a few neighbors replacing hot water heaters newer than ours. RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post By Jill (Guest Post) (09/07/2005) The home stores like Lowes or HD sell kits for wrapping water heaters. It is insulation material with a tyvek type coat attached. You wrap the water heater with the coat and seal it with the duct tape enclosed.Putting the foam snap on wrap on your pipes is very helpful. I have that on all my hot water pipes under the house, in the walls and at the water heater connection.It comes in different widths, so measure the length you need of each size. It has a slit so you just slide them on all hot water pipes to keep your investment protected.If you live in a cold climate, insulate the cold water pipes too to keep them from freezing.Cheap protection for peace of mind.Jill RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post by LI Roe (42) | (09/07/2005) Profile | Contact I don't know about wrapping with blankets but I have foam insulation tubes that you can buy at a hardware or home improvement store to wrap around the pipes.They come in different diameters to fit the size pipes you have and are not that expensive. A friend of mine bought me three different packages since the pipes in my basement are different sizes. Next time we are in a home store, I'll have to check out the "blankets". My local news station often runs episodes about home improvement projects, they only told about the pipe insulation, not the blankets. With the price of home heating oil supposed to jump even higher, any little bit helps. LI Roe RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post By Karen in NH (Guest Post) (09/07/2005) Living in New England it is a "must" that we wrap our hot water heater. The blanket is made from fiberglass and coated in a type of plastic. It fits snugly around the water heater and has its own fasteners. The pipes can be covered with pipe insulation, of which there are different types. The easiest & cheapest type is made of foam and has a slit in one side so you just slip it over the pipe. Because it's made of foam, you can cut it to fit the length of your pipe. Both the hot water heater blanket and the pipe insulation can be bought at any home improvement store or hardware store. We noticed a big difference in our electric bills after we had wrapped our heater. I strongly recommend it. RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post By Mary (Guest Post) (09/06/2005) There is a special insulated 'blanket" that is used to wrap the hot water tank and it saves a ton of electricty (according to the hydro company!) At one time our provincial hydro company sent a man around who put the blanket on for us- can't remember but I"m sure we paid something for the service. There are cut out sections for the controls, etc. RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post By Linda (Guest Post) (09/06/2005) You need a water heater blanket, sold at all hdware sroes and stores that sell water heaters. DO NOT use a regular bed blanket. RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post By Garfield (Guest Post) (09/06/2005) You can get the thermo wraps at lowes, home depot and building materials stores. It does help to wrap. Garfield RE: Wrapping Your Hot Water Heater Post by ILuvDobes (287) | (09/06/2005) Profile | Contact Hi Lori, I have heard the same but would be curious if someone who knows for sure will reply. I think they sell the "blankets" at Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. Jennifer Northern Virginia (where it gets COLD) lol