| Q:
I have
searched the FAQ's and other pages on this site and can't find any information
about using an aftermarket insulation wrap around a gas fired tank water
heater. I will be replacing one soon. It is 25 years old, has not been maintained
by previous owners, and I will be adding a recirculation system. What I
am debating is whether to buy a tank with 1 inch insulation and an after
market wrap to save the money or to buy a tank with 2 inch insulation. The
water heater is in an unheated but insulated garage that typically averages
40-45 degrees through our New Jersey winters. Are there any pros and cons
to wrapping a tank other than being unable to spot a leak early?
A:
Hello:
Wrapping a tank with fiberglass usually is not equal to an inch of foam
insulation. Also, it is prone to shifting and restricting air into the
heater. I'd get a well insulated heater (some come with up to three inches
of foam) and then get 3/4" pipe insulation for both hot and cold lines
as they can lose quite a lot of heat. Do look into a demand system, http://www.gothotwater.com
as it wastes far less energy than conventional systems do. Have you checked
fixture flow rates? Nag, nag!. --
Eleent (12/27/09)
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