Insulation blankets

[rwand1]

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/waterheaterblankets

[jmichalski]

I think the answer is that no one knows for sure....

This site (http://www.powerhousetv.com/stellent...ma_000553.hcsp ) for a DIY show says this:
(NOTE THE COST!)

Your attic isn't the only thing that needs insulation. Wrapping the tank and hot water pipes on an older water heater can significantly reduce the amount of "standby" heat loss, saving you money on your energy costs.
A tank wrap is a thick fiberglass blanket, secured around the tank by waterproof tape. You can find water heater insulation kits at your hardware store or home center for about $20. This cost can be paid back in energy savings in just a few months.
Newer water heaters (less than seven years old) don't need a tank wrap, but can benefit from pipe insulation, which can be purchased separately.

DoE says (again, note the cost):

<H1>Insulate Your Water Heater Tank for Energy Savings

Unless your water heater's storage tank already has a high R-value of insulation (at least R-24), adding insulation to it can reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45%. This will save you around 4%–9% in water heating costs.
If you don't know your water heater tank's R-value, touch it. A tank that's warm to the touch needs additional insulation.
Insulating your storage water heater tank is fairly simple and inexpensive, and it will pay for itself in about a year. You can find pre-cut jackets or blankets available from around $10–$20. Choose one with an insulating value of at least R-8. Some utilities sell them at low prices, offer rebates, and even install them at a low or no cost.

</H1>

But the Iowa Energy Agency recommends caution not to void warranties:

Before you buy an insulation blanket, check the owner’s information that came with your water heater to make sure the manufacturer doesn’t prohibit installing one. The latest energy-efficient water heaters have very high insulation levels, which eliminates the need for adding an insulation blanket—and some manufacturers may void the appliance’s warranty if you do so.

Sounds like they are worthwhile (except perhaps on newer well-insulated models) as long as they do not void warranties....

It also sounds like someone paid about $260 too much...

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by dhadler

I wouldn't even mention them in any case.

I mention them if they are there because they invariably cover up the safety and operational information, and that, in my opinion, is bad.

Here's some of the more creative insulation blankets from my inspections:

[jmichalski]

Photo #3 - "Duct tape - is there anything it can't do?"

My brother calls it "The Force": It has a dark side, it has a good side and it holds the universe together.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by rwand1

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/waterheaterblankets

That Russell asking the question of Barry is yours truly. I had a long email conversation with Barry concerning insulation blankets. We finally agreed to disagree on a lot of stuff. He used several snippets from all of our emails to create a column that suited his needs. I sooooooooooooooo much wanted to have a column of my own so that I could publish all of the emails between Barry and me to present, as someone once said, "the rest of the story."

By the way, I did put an insulation blanket on my water heater courtesy of the plumber down the street as per Barry's instructions. No discernible warmth. Why? Because my water heater is a 2001 water heater with double walls and insulation between the walls.

As I told Barry in one of my emails, if the water heater is old (i.e., single wall), an insulation blanket might be worthwhile. However, I still wouldn't install one, preferring to simply buy a new water heater for not much more. Simply upgrading to a modern water heater will result in significant savings above and beyond the cost of the insulation blanket itself.

And now that tankless water heaters have hit the market heavily....

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by jmichalski

(http://www.powerhousetv.com/stellent...ma_000553.hcsp )

Note that it says "older water heater."

Originally Posted by jmichalski

(NOTE THE COST!)
...
But the Iowa Energy Agency recommends caution not to void warranties:

...

Sounds like they are worthwhile (except perhaps on newer well-insulated models) as long as they do not void warranties....

It also sounds like someone paid about $260 too much...

Note that, for that cost, one has to get in one's car, make a trip to the home improvement store, hope that they have the corrent wrap so that one only has to make one trip, stand in the checkout line, sit in traffic, and install it. I value my time at $100 an hour, working or at play, so I could very easily spend $280 in materials and labor to do a good job.

And, as a former property renovator, I also know that most tradespeople add 10-25% to the cost of materials to take into account exactly those items stated above. Then they add labor. So $280 still is well within the cost of hiring qualified/licensed labor to purchase materials and install them.

Depending on how you value your own time, whenever you ask for work to be done that includes material, always ask for quotes that separate materials from labor. Then determine if you can purchase materials at a lower cost than what you have been quoted. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't, depending on how you value you time, your own knowledge and expertise, and whether or not you can deal with any unforeseen problems. In many cases, it is easier/better to hire appropriate professionals rather than make a mess and then hire appropriate professionals to clean up your mess.

[Russel Ray]

Picture #1 was Martha Stewart's house.

Actually, picture #1 was a converted garage. Unfortunately, the "door" to the water heater must have weighed a few hundred pounds. It took two inspectors and two Realtors to remove the six screws and pry it out of the opening in which it was stuck. My Client buying the property was a little ol' lady downsizing from a Monster Mansion (are they related to Monster Trucks?) to a quaint home (read, small home at 1,250 SF) to be closer to her grandchildren. I can see her, at 100 lbs trying to remove that thing during an emergency and then trying to get through all the fiberglass insulation, and then through the insulation blanket. Interestingly, the water heater was brand new; I think it was a 2003 inspection.

[Russel Ray]

I knew this would be a lively thread.

[jmichalski]

Originally Posted by rray

Picture #1 was Martha Stewart's house.

Actually, picture #1 was a converted garage. Unfortunately, the "door" to the water heater must have weighed a few hundred pounds. It took two inspectors and two Realtors to remove the six screws and pry it out of the opening in which it was stuck. My Client buying the property was a little ol' lady downsizing from a Monster Mansion (are they related to Monster Trucks?) to a quaint home (read, small home at 1,250 SF) to be closer to her grandchildren. I can see her, at 100 lbs trying to remove that thing during an emergency and then trying to get through all the fiberglass insulation, and then through the insulation blanket. Interestingly, the water heater was brand new; I think it was a 2003 inspection.

Let's hope grandma doesn't ever ahve to replace it! Might be a tight fit!

[cmccann]

David Macy wins the prize..good advice.

Michigan 31 Ohio St 17....sorry..deduct 20 points from me if you want.

[Jae Williams]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

I peeled one back on a water heater in a crawl space this past summer and was warmly greeted by a 6 foot long black snake.

I'm very much against insulating blankets!

You stayed around long enough to measure it?????

[rbunzel]

If you have an infrared thermometer you can quickly tell if the HW tank needs a blanket or not. If you see the skin 10-20 degrees warmer than the environment then a blanket will do some good. Most times a greater benefit will be found in adequately insulating the HW pipes.

//Rick

[rwand1]

If memory serves me correctly my blanket cost $60, of course I installed it myself.

I also have another electric 40 gallon in the tack room and it has a blanket on it as well because the room is kept at 50 degrees.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by rwand1

tack room ... the room is kept at 50 degrees.

What is a tack room and why do you need to keep it so cold.

I keep my tacks in my desk drawer.

[rwand1]

Tack room for storing horse apparels, saddles, briddles that sort of thing.

Why heat it when I am only in their occassionally.

I have occassionally sat on a tack or two and under a(t)tack!