Save Money with a Water Heater Wrap

To save on energy costs and ensure a longer hot water supply, consider enclosing the body of your water heater with a tank wrap, a thick fiberglass blanket that's sold at most hardware stores. Secure the ends of the blanket with waterproof tape. Experts recommend wrapping older water heaters; newer heaters that are less than seven years old don't need an entire wrap but can still benefit from pipe insulation.

Alliant Energy provides complete installation instructions for this quick and easy project.

Charles & Hudson | Comments () |

Mechteld Abelli

Pipe insulation for the heater will be a great help, especially for old heaters, as it has less insulation compared to newer ones. I clearly remember wondering as a kid why my uncle used to wrap his water heater with something similar. Years later, I understood why his house has remained warm and safe for years thanks to this method.

Kate

I have been looking for an 80 gallon water heater wrap, no luck so far. Anyone know who sells them?

sjames

Actually the insulation in the tank is very efficient and little heat transfers outside the water heater. In fact you only lose about $.15/day. Tank wraps provide no value.

Will Barrow

I don't think older water heaters have as good insulation as the newer models and the wraps provide much needed help.

dlub

I live in a warmer part of the country, and asked both my plumber and the local gas company service person about wrapping it in extra insulation. They both said that it would just serve to over-heat the water heater, was not only unnecessary but destructive to the heater.

Susan

Why would anyone NOT choose to wrap their water heater? any disadvantages?