Truth or Myth?

[Eddie_V]

Does wrapping your water heater really help lower the cost of energy bills? Anybody have knowledgeable experience with?

If it works, I'm doing it right away!

 

[Bushytails]

It did on older heaters, but newer ones with modern insulation will see little or no benefit - the easy check is to feel the outside while it's been off for a bit. If it's cool, then insulating it isn't going to help. Many newer heaters say in the instructions not to use blankets on them, and some say it will damage the heater.

--Bushytails

 

[Animal]

Like he said...
Another add on is to insulate the hot lines leaving the heater, so they stay warmer on the way to the fixture.

 

[Bushytails]

Yep. Installing heat traps and insulating the lines can help lower the cost of keeping the water hot, too.

--Bushytails

 

[Eddie_V]

Wonder what kind of damage would happen??

Also, what could I wrap the lines with? Just blankets?

 

[Bushytails]

Foam pipe insulation - the black stuff you stick on pipes. Slit it down the side if it's not already pre-slit, slide it on, tape it up tightly.

--Bushytails