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As temperatures drop, you’ll likely remember to protect your pipes and faucets by allowing them to drip during freezing weather. What else can you do to protect your indoor plumbing? Should you insulate your water heater?
As a leading provider of water heater repair in Oklahoma City, OK, Champion Plumbing helps you determine whether this extra effort protects your water heater. Learn more about water heater insulation and how it protects your appliance below.
What Does Insulation Do?
Insulation provides an extra layer of protection from the elements. All buildings require insulation to maintain a comfortable internal temperature and sufficient energy efficiency. Many property owners insulate the pipes beneath their sinks and outdoor faucets.
Does insulating your water heater offer similar benefits? What insulation materials should you use?
Should You Insulate Your Water Heater?
Most modern water heaters don’t need extra insulation. Older models with R-values exceeding 23 can also manage winter weather without protection. However, you can still reap the benefits of extra insulation, even if your heater doesn’t technically need it. Plus, insulating your water heater is an easy task to mark off on your to-do list.
The Benefits of Water Heater Insulation
Water heaters of all sizes lose heat when temperatures drop, resulting in lower water temperatures and higher energy bills. Your showers may feel cooler than you’d like. Increasing the temperature on the heater’s thermostat device will only use more energy.
After you insulate the water heater, you’ll enjoy warmer showers and improved heat retention. An insulated water heater stays up to four degrees warmer than an uninsulated one. Additionally, the extra insulation increases your utility bill savings and makes your home more energy efficient, which ultimately helps the planet.
Before You Insulate
Inspect your water heater before adding insulation around it. Check the floor beneath it for puddles or damp spots. Examine valves and pipe connections for slow drips.
If you discover a leaky component, contact your local plumbing experts for assistance. They’ll determine whether they can repair your water heater. If you’ve used your appliance for a decade or more, you might need a replacement soon.
Insulating Materials for Your Heater Tank
What should you use to insulate your water heater? Many homeowners purchase an insulation blanket. These blankets have various materials to ensure heat retention, like fiberglass, silica, and foam. A thin foil coating typically holds these materials together.
You can purchase an insulation product from most home improvement retailers. Measure your water for height and circumference to ensure you purchase enough material. Oversized blankets give you more material to work with.
Next, wrap the material around the water heater. You may need to cut the material to fit. Create openings for a secure fit around various components.
If your water heater uses electricity, it might need added insulation around the bottom. Wood or another durable material works perfectly for this purpose.
Choosing an Insulation Jacket
Should you insulate your water heater with a jacket? Insulation jackets offer more advantages than their standard blanket counterparts. Many manufacturers and plumbing companies carry jackets designed to fit most water heater models.
Since jackets provide a more custom fit, you don’t have to cut the material to apply snug insulation. Once the weather warms, remove the jacket and store it until next winter.
Other Protective Measures
Although insulation application might seem simple and affordable, you should still adhere to safety guidelines when fitting your water heater with a jacket or blanket. After all, water heaters output and manage heat. High temperatures and heating elements come with flammable consequences if handled incorrectly.
If you own a gas heater, use the following precautions when applying insulating wraps:
- Find the pilot flame’s location. Fit your insulation so that the material never touches the flame. Otherwise, it could smother the light and leave your household with no hot water.
- Remove any excess material that might end up under the tank. Even stray amounts of insulation could shift beneath the tank and contact the pilot light.
- Never cover the top of the water heater. Gas water heaters release exhaust through the tank’s top. When exhaust can’t escape, it could evolve into a dangerous situation with carbon monoxide and irreparable heater damage.
Since electric water heaters use wiring networks to produce heat, you should protect the wires from overheating. Set your heater’s thermostat below 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures can melt wire coatings, exposing the wires and creating fire hazards.
Other Ways to Winterize Your Plumbing System
How else can you protect your plumbing system during bitter winter nights? Find other winterization tips and tricks listed below:
- Run your dishwasher and washing machine at night: These appliances use hot water for long periods. On cold nights, start washing cycles just before bedtime. The water flowing through these devices will prevent frozen pipes.
- Cover your outdoor faucets: Outdoor hose connections can act as a gateway for frigid temps. Remove and store all water hoses before covering the faucets.
- Insulate your exposed indoor pipes: Plumbing jackets work much like water heater jackets. They should fit most exposed pipe fittings perfectly and retain heat to prevent freezing.
- Let water drip throughout the night: Moving water won’t freeze as easily as stagnant water. Allow your faucets to drip throughout the nights with freezing temperatures.
- Maintain an indoor temperature of at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit: When you travel for the holidays, you might feel tempted to turn off your heat. However, your indoor plumbing could suffer from low temperatures. Set your thermostat to 55 degrees or more to protect the pipes.
A qualified plumber can assist you with other hot water conservation or plumbing protection strategies.
Contact Champion Plumbing for Other Winter Plumbing Wins
As Oklahoma City’s water heater experts, our plumbers can help you insulate your water heater correctly. We can also answer your burning questions like “Can a water heater explode?” Choose us for your plumbing needs.
Call 405-342-3571 for stellar services from Champion Plumbing’s winning team of experts!
