Early Retirement & Financial Independence Community - View Single Post - Water Heater 'Blankets'

education · 12-07-2006, 09:14 AM

Hi Everyone--

I have a gas fired hot water heater that I used an insulating blanket on several years ago. The house is exactly 20 years old, and it is the original tank that sits in the garage. I will tell everyone that it does make a difference in costs to operate as the themostat can be reduced. It also stops much of the natural dissapation of heat to a cooler space. But it is VITALLY IMPORTANT to use caution when placing the blanket near the burner or the flu. Keeping the insulation away from the burner is necessary if there happens to be a flame rollout whee the flame comes out of the burner compartment because of a malfunction. I would suggest not even attempting to cover the top of the tank where the flu protrudes dure to the high heat generated.

I think my blanket cost about $17.00 when I installed it 10 years ago. And I will tell you that the tape they provided was useless. I used gray duct tape and it is still holding.

When draining the tank, do it in the early morning when the sediment has settled to the bottom. Drain out 3 or 4 gallon buckets. The drain may leak after so have a threaded end cap that you can screw on to stop the leak.

Professor

12-07-2006, 09:14 AM	#9
education Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 159	Hi Everyone-- I have a gas fired hot water heater that I used an insulating blanket on several years ago. The house is exactly 20 years old, and it is the original tank that sits in the garage. I will tell everyone that it does make a difference in costs to operate as the themostat can be reduced. It also stops much of the natural dissapation of heat to a cooler space. But it is VITALLY IMPORTANT to use caution when placing the blanket near the burner or the flu. Keeping the insulation away from the burner is necessary if there happens to be a flame rollout whee the flame comes out of the burner compartment because of a malfunction. I would suggest not even attempting to cover the top of the tank where the flu protrudes dure to the high heat generated. I think my blanket cost about $17.00 when I installed it 10 years ago. And I will tell you that the tape they provided was useless. I used gray duct tape and it is still holding. When draining the tank, do it in the early morning when the sediment has settled to the bottom. Drain out 3 or 4 gallon buckets. The drain may leak after so have a threaded end cap that you can screw on to stop the leak. Professor