If we told you that spending roughly $30 and taking about an hour and a half out of your weekend could save you upwards of 16% on your annual water heater bill, is that something you might be interested in? Your home’s water heater is probably a piece of equipment you pay very little attention to, but it might be worth dedicating some time to it this week. Find out if it’s worth insulating your water heater tank, below:
Before You Spend Money or Begin Work:
- Contact your local utility company to find out if they provide insulating blankets. Some companies even install them for very little or no cost to homeowners at all.
- Check the water heater for leaks. If you notice it’s leaking, you’ll want to have the water heater repaired or replaced before you spend time insulating it.
Here’s What You’ll Need To Do:
- Turn off the water supply to the tank. If you have an electric water heater, be sure to also turn off the breaker at the panel and if you have a gas system, turn the valve to the “pilot” position.
- Using a tape measure, measure the height and the circumference of the tank so you can cut a piece of insulation that fits. It’s better to leave a little extra slack because you can always trim it later on.
- Wrap the blanket around the tank and use tape to hold it in place. Then mark off where the controls are so you can cut them out for accessibility in the future.
- Turn the water supply back on and voila! It’s that simple!
Is It Worth It?
Although free time on the weekends can be tough to come by, it’s absolutely worth blocking off a few hours. For just under 2 hours of work and less than $30 in supplies, you can cut standby heat losses by nearly 45% and save roughly 15% on annual water heating costs. It’s a no-brainer if you ask us!
For more than 80 years we’ve operated as a family owned business, routinely installing and servicing boilers in countless Metro Detroit homes. Call on the experts at Levine & Sons to schedule an appointment today!