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Water Heater Jacket, Radiant Barrier Insulation
The Hot Water Heater Jacket is a radiant barrier insulation cover designed to help reduce heat loss from gas and electric water heaters. The single-bubble radiant barrier material reflects heat back toward the water heater instead of allowing as much heat to escape from the tank, helping the water heater retain warmth.
This one-size-fits-most water heater jacket can be installed around both gas and electric water heaters. It is a practical insulation upgrade for homes, shops, barns, utility rooms, and other buildings where reducing heat loss from a hot water tank is important.
Radiant Barrier Water Heater Insulation
Water heaters continuously lose some heat through the walls of the tank, even when no hot water is being used. Adding an insulating jacket creates another layer around the tank and helps reduce this heat loss.
The radiant barrier material works differently from conventional bulky insulation. Its metalized surface reflects radiant heat back toward the water heater. The jacket has an R-4 thermal value and is designed to help improve the efficiency of the water heating system.
Fits Gas and Electric Water Heaters
The jacket is designed to work with both gas and electric water heaters. Because water heaters can have different pipes, valves, controls, and access points, the material can be cut during installation to fit around the specific components on the tank.
Proper installation is important. Openings should be cut around the water intake, water outlet, valves, pipes, drain, controls, and other components that need to remain accessible. Gas water heaters also require appropriate clearance and airflow around the burner area.
How the Water Heater Jacket Works
The metalized surface of the radiant barrier reflects heat back toward the water heater. Instead of allowing as much radiant heat to escape into the surrounding room, the barrier helps return that heat toward the tank.
This can help reduce standby heat loss and may reduce the amount of energy required to maintain the temperature of the stored hot water. The product page states that the jacket can save up to 20% on hot water heating costs, or approximately $4 per month, depending on the application and operating conditions.
Easy Water Heater Jacket Installation
The jacket can be installed using a straightforward cut-and-fit process. The material is wrapped around the tank, with additional pieces used to create a top section. Openings are then cut where necessary for pipes, valves, controls, the drain, and other water heater components.
The supplied material is designed to be fitted around the individual water heater rather than requiring a precise factory-molded size. This makes the one-size-fits-most design adaptable to different tank configurations.
Important Installation Considerations
When installing a water heater insulation jacket, it is important not to cover components that require access or interfere with safe operation. The installation instructions specifically call for an opening around the pop-off valve pipe and adequate clearance around the burner area on gas water heaters.
The jacket should hang loosely and extend slightly away from the sides of the water heater rather than being tightly wrapped against the tank. Openings around the burner area should allow sufficient airflow, and access to controls, valves, drains, and other service components should be maintained.
Benefits of Water Heater Insulation
- Helps reduce heat loss from the water heater tank
- Reflects radiant heat back toward the tank
- R-4 thermal value
- Designed for gas and electric water heaters
- One-size-fits-most design can be customized during installation
- Can help reduce standby heat loss
- May help lower hot water heating costs
- Lightweight radiant barrier construction
- Can be installed without replacing the existing water heater
Water Heater Jacket Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Radiant barrier water heater jacket |
| Size | One size fits most |
| Construction | Single-bubble radiant barrier |
| Thermal Value | R-4 |
| Water Heater Type | Gas or electric |
| Installation | Cut and fit around tank components |
Help Reduce Hot Water Heating Costs
Improving the insulation around a water heater can help reduce the amount of heat that escapes from the tank between heating cycles. By retaining more of the stored heat, the water heater may need to use less energy to bring the water back to its set temperature.
The actual savings will vary depending on the water heater, ambient temperature, water temperature setting, usage, existing insulation, and other operating conditions. The manufacturer information for this product indicates potential savings of up to 20% on hot water heating costs.
Water Heater Insulation for Home and Utility Applications
A water heater jacket can be useful anywhere a conventional tank-style water heater is installed and additional insulation is desired. It can be used in residential utility rooms as well as workshops, barns, outbuildings, and other locations with compatible gas or electric water heaters.
The reflective material is lightweight and can be cut to accommodate the specific configuration of the tank. This makes it possible to insulate around existing equipment without replacing the water heater or making major changes to the installation.
Installation Tips
Begin by wrapping the material around the water heater and allowing approximately two inches of overlap at the seam. Separate pieces can be used to create the top of the jacket. The seams can then be secured with foil tape.
Cut openings for the water heater's pipes, valves, controls, drain, burner cover, and other components as required. On gas water heaters, provide adequate clearance around the burner area and maintain the required airflow. The pop-off valve pipe must also remain exposed.
When properly installed, the jacket should fit loosely around the tank and extend slightly away from the sides. This allows the insulation to perform as intended while keeping important water heater components accessible.
Radiant Barrier Jacket for Hot Water Tanks
The Hot Water Heater Jacket provides an economical way to add radiant barrier insulation around an existing gas or electric water heater. Its reflective single-bubble construction, R-4 thermal value, and adaptable one-size-fits-most design make it a practical choice for reducing heat loss from hot water storage tanks.
For homeowners, property owners, and building operators looking for a simple way to improve water heater insulation, this jacket adds another layer of protection around the tank without requiring replacement of the existing water heating equipment.
The TempShield Single Bubble Radiant Barrier Water Heater Jacket works by reflecting heat back into the water heater. The jacket can be installed in minutes and fits both gas and electric units. A TempShield Single Bubble Radiant Barrier Water Heater Jacket has a thermal R-4 value and can save up to 20% on hot water heating costs (or about $4.00 per month)!
Installing your water heater jacket
#1 Wrap water heater
Starting at the top of the tank, cut the metalized film to overlap two (2) inches. Face the metalized film side of the material away from the tank. Continue down tank as stated above.
#2 Use remaining pieces to fabricate top circle.
Make two semi-circles slightly larger than the tank. Cut access holes for water intake, water outlet, draft diverter, and any other protruding valves or pipes. NOTE: When two halves of the top are placed on the heater, sides should extend about 1/2" beyond the edge of the water heater all the way around.
#3 Put top pieces on water heater and tape seams with foil tape.
#4 Fit the jacket loosely around the heater.
Tape the large piece to the top piece. Then tape the vertical seam. NOTE: CUT OPENING IN THE JACKET TO ALLOW EXPOSURE OF THE POP-OFF VALVE PIPE.
#5 Cut out holes for burner cover, controls, drain, etc.
Make hole about two (2) inches larger than access opening to allow plenty of airflow around burner area.
NOTE: When installed properly, the jacket should hang loosely and slightly extend away from the sides of the water heater. Optional: You may want to tape the jacket to the tank around the access hole. This will keep edges secure.