Conventional storage tank water heaters are notoriously inefficient. Despite this con, storage tank water heaters are still the most commonly used water heaters in the United States. The main reason why storage tank water heaters are so inefficient is because they lose heat energy in the hot water stored in their storage tanks. The older models are the most affected by this standby heat loss problem. Models that are 10 years or older have poor insulation, which means that the hot water stored in the storage tank loses a lot of heat. Modern models have built-in insulation, which helps to reduce standby heat loss significantly. If you have an old storage tank water heater, then you should consider insulating it during the cold season. You can also decide to upgrade to a newer model or to a high efficiency tankless water heater. When buying DC gas water heaters, choose an Energy Star certified model to ensure maximum energy savings. But if you are not ready to replace your old water heater with a new model or with a tankless model, then you can use this step-by-step guide to insulate the hot water storage tank during this cold season.
The first step is to buy an insulating blanket. Insulating blankets are sold in many hardware stores. They are quite affordable and they come in many different sizes. You should choose an insulating blanket of the right size to ensure that it covers the hot water storage tank completely. This means that you have to take the measurements of your hot water storage tank and use them to choose an insulating blanket of the right size.
You do not necessarily need to call a professional plumber to help you insulate your hot water heater. Unless you do not have the time or you do not want the hassle, you can just do it yourself. Actually it will be far much easier if you get someone to help you. The first thing that you will have to do is to mark all the valves, vents, and electrical components. You will have to wrap the hot water storage tank with the insulating blanket and mark all the vents, valves, and electrical components. You should not cover any of the vents, valves, and electrical components.
After marking all the valves, vents, and electrical components, lay the insulating blanket flat on a surface and use a utility knife or a sharp blade to cut holes for these components. Take your time and be very careful to ensure that you cut holes for all the vents, valves, and components. Also ensure that the holes are not too big to avoid leaving huge sections of the hot water storage tank un-insulated.
Now that you have left space for all the components, it's time to wrap up the hot water storage tank with the insulating blanket. This is where you need some assistance to ensure that completely wrap up the whole tank leaving only the valves, vents, and electrical components exposed. Hold the insulating blanket securely on the hot water storage tank with tape and you are done.