By Tom Scalisi | Updated Jan 13, 2023 5:16 PM
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Traditional tank-style water heaters typically store between 40 and 60 gallons of water, heating and reheating them as they cool. This isn’t a highly efficient way to supply a home with hot water, so if you’ve got one of these units—and aren’t up for switching over to a tankless system—increasing its efficiency can save you money.
One of the simplest methods is with the best water heater blanket. A water heater blanket (also known as a jacket or shield) insulates the tank, holding heat longer and keeping the machine from running as often. Outfit your tank with a blanket and you’re bound to see lower energy bills while lessening your home’s energy consumption. Ahead, learn how to shop wisely and why the following models are among the best water heater blankets you can buy.
In choosing our top picks for the best water heater blankets available on the market, we looked at two top factors:
Material: Our list of recommendations covers the most popular types of water heater blanks, including thick fiberglass options as well as thinner foam and foil options.
Size: We made sure to include a range of sizes on our list of best water heater blankets, with a range of options to cover most shapes. For oddly shaped water heaters with awkward piping, we included recommendations for several easy-to-cut options that can fit snugly around even the most difficult water heater shapes.
Armed with essential info on the best water heater blankets, choosing one should be fairly easy—especially once you read up on the top products described below. Be sure to keep our considerations in mind when comparing water heater blankets to make an informed decision.
When it comes to insulating a water heater as much as possible, Frost King’s SP60 All Season Water Heater Insulation blanket is tough to beat. This fiberglass insulation is 3 inches thick, offering an insulation value of R-10. The blanket also has a foil face to reflect as much heat back into the tank as possible.
This 3-inch thick fiberglass insulation blanket is 90-inches long by 60-inches wide, making it a good choice for water heaters with a tank capacity of 60 gallons. It also comes with foil tape for installing securely without any gaps for heat or cold air to penetrate. And, because it’s fiberglass and foil, it’s nonflammable.
Get the Frost King water heater blanket at Amazon.
Anyone hoping to install a water heater blanket that won’t be itchy and uncomfortable to work with may wish to check out this water heater blanket from SmartJacket. This foil-type insulation kit features a 5-millimeter-thick blanket, providing an R-Value of 7.1. It comes as a roll with plenty of material, enabling it to insulate tanks between 20 and 80 gallons.
The insulation blanket is entirely fiberglass-free, making it easy to install, and it comes with the foil tape necessary to secure it around the tank. The material is easy to cut around drains and burners for added safety. While there is no mention of fire resistance in the product information, foil isn’t flammable.
Get the SmartJacket water heater blanket at Amazon.
Water heater blankets are all about saving money, but the thriftiest of shoppers might appreciate the affordability of the US Energy Products water heater blanket kit. This roll of foil-type insulation features two layers of air bubbles inside the foil face, offering both reflective insulation and a thermal barrier at a low price.
This water heater insulation blanket comes with enough material to wrap a water heater between 20 and 80 gallons. It also features a commercial-grade design that’s resistant to tearing for added durability. Though it doesn’t come with foil tape, purchasing a roll separately will give the installer plenty of material for insulating a tank and other objects, like basement windows or doors.
Get the US Energy Products 80-gallon water heater blanket at Amazon or US Energy Products.
Just because a water heater blanket is lightweight doesn’t mean it can’t do the job. So those looking to maintain tank temperature with lightweight insulation will want to check out Reflecto-Foil’s water heater jacket. This kit comes with a roll of foil-type insulation that measures 72 inches tall by 76 inches wide, allowing users to insulate tanks between 50 and 60 gallons. It’s also Class 1/Class A fire rated.
The lightweight design makes the insulation blanket very easy to install. There isn’t any fiberglass to contend with, so slicing it to a custom size is simple. The kit includes the foil tape and spacers (small chunks of foam used to make a consistent circumference around the tank) necessary for installing it on a variety of tanks.
Get the Reflecto-Foil 60-gallon water heater blanket at Amazon.
Buying a large kit to insulate a small tank can be a waste of money. Reflecto-Foil’s water heater jacket is designed to work with water heater tanks up to 40 gallons to save cash and avoid wasted material.
This kit features a roll of Class 1/Class A fire-rated foil insulation, foil tape, and the spacers (small chunks of foam used to make a consistent circumference around the tank) necessary for a good fit. The roll of insulation measures 48 inches tall by 76 inches long, covering most smaller water heater tanks with ease. And because it’s fiberglass-free, installers can work without masks or long sleeves.
Get the Reflecto-Foil 40-gallon water heater blanket at Amazon.
DIYers with a water tank to insulate, as well as other insulation projects around the house, may want to pick up this reflective foam water heater insulation blanket from US Energy Products. This 48-inch by 10-foot roll of aluminum-polyester foam insulation has enough material to insulate water heaters of varying capacities. It can also work for such insulation projects as garage and basement doors and ductwork. The metalized surface reflects heat back into the tank while the foam creates a thermal barrier.
This foam insulation blanket features a fire-resistant rating of Class 1/Class A, meaning it’s more than suitable for water heater insulating projects. The fiberglass-free material is easy to cut or slice to shape. Installers needn’t worry about wearing a respirator while working with the fiberglass-free material.
Get the US Energy Products 25-foot water heater blanket at Amazon or US Energy Products.
Before shopping for the best water heater blanket, read this section to understand the factors and features to keep in mind. This will help you make an informed decision.
When perusing hot water heater blankets, you’ll notice that there are a few different types available. This mostly comes down to the type of insulating material. Some are easier to work with during installation than others, as they often need to be trimmed to fit individual water heaters.
You may also find combinations of materials, such as fiberglass insulation with a foil face. This can offer the best of both worlds, using a thick, insulating layer of air pockets and radiating heat back into the tank.
Water heaters, like most appliances, come in different sizes. The larger the house and family and the number of sinks and showers all affect how large a water heater a home needs. While water heaters range between 30 and 98 gallons, 40, 50, and 60 gallon tanks are most common in homes.
Water heater blankets also come in similar sizes, so it’s important to find one that will work for your tank. If you have a 50-gallon tank, finding a water heater blanket to fit it should be no problem. Water heater blankets to fit 98-gallon tanks, typically used in commercial settings, may be harder to track down.
When it comes to materials like fiberglass, cotton, and denim, the thicker the water heater blanket, the better it will be at insulating. A water heater located in a cool basement calls for a thicker blanket. It will do a better job of separating the cool air and the heat radiating from the tank than a thinner one.
Because foil works primarily by reflecting the heat instead of relying on an air-pocket barrier, it needn’t be thick to function efficiently. Most foil insulating water heater blankets are less than 35 millimeters thick. This is another reason foil water heater blankets are so easy to work with.
Just like your home’s insulation, water heater blankets come in a variety of insulation ratings. These ratings are described as R-value, where the R stands for resistance. The higher the R-value, the more resistance the insulation has against heat transfer. Essentially, more is better.
The highest R-value you’re likely to find for a residential water heater blanket is R-11, but values of R-7 and R-8 are more common. It’s best to find the highest R-value blanket that fits your budget and your tank.
Do keep in mind that foil-type insulation rarely offers an R-value. R-values apply to fiberglass and other similar types of insulation.
Water heaters have burner assemblies that get very hot. The point of insulating a water heater is to save energy and money, not cause a fire. Different water heater blanket materials have varying degrees of fire resistance to combat that risk. While the most common designation is Class 1/Class A, it’s helpful to know which types are the most fire resistant.
If fire resistance is of utmost importance, a fiberglass or foil water heater blanket is the way to go. Some fiberglass or foil products aren’t fire rated, but that doesn’t mean they’re unsafe. Just be sure to keep the insulation clear of the burner by a few inches.
There are two types of water heaters: electric and gas. Electric water heaters have a heating element inside that energizes and heats the water that surrounds it. Gas water heaters have burners underneath that kick on to heat water through convection.
Fortunately, water heater blankets are interchangeable between the two water heater types. However, if you have a gas-powered heater, it’s crucial that the blanket doesn’t cover or otherwise obstruct the flue (aka exhaust) at the top. If you have an electric model, the blanket must not cover or obstruct its control box or access panel, typically located on the side of the tank. Also, be sure to cut the insulation back from the burner by at least 2 inches while installing.
If you still want more information about buying and using the best water heater blanket, consider the answers to these frequently asked questions.
A great water heater blanket will offer a blend of insulation value, cost-effectiveness, and fire resistance.
It depends on the size of your tank. Generally speaking, manufacturers label their water heater blankets according to the size of the tank they’ll cover. If you’re unsure, measure your tank’s height and circumference, and compare it to the measurements on the package.
Water heater blankets are low maintenance, but fiberglass, cotton, and denim can begin to smell and stop insulating if they get wet. It’s a good idea to check on your water heater blanket a few times a year to ensure it’s still in good condition.
Undamaged water heater blankets may far outlast a water heater. The average gas water heater lasts between 8 and 12 years, while the average electric water heater lasts 10 to 15 years. A water heater blanket kept in good condition will outlast a water heater without issue.
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