off topic (elec water heater)

[s19438]

would it be safe to use blocks of styrofoam to insulate the top of a elec. water heater?
thanks.

 

[Bruce(OR)]

They do make water heater blankets that go around water heaters.

 

[ROZ]

I have a jacket on a gas water heater. Try your Home Depot etc. They will have one. They come with instructions. They really do work. After having it on a week,put your hand between the jacket and the water heater. This will show you how much heat that would have radiated out.

 

[Boss Hog]

I don't like the idea. That stuff is awfully flammable.

 

[Graeme(Aust)]

Extra insulation around hot water tanks is a cheap and effective way to save energy. Should not cause a fire risk with an electric heater, but obviously sensible to take care around panel where heating element and thermostat are located. It is not going to get very hot anyway, as the water temperature is limited by the thermostat to about 55 deg C or 130 deg F, so the insulation can't get above this temp. Insulation wraps or blankets should be available at Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

 

[steve19438]

i have a blanket on but it does NOT cover the top of the water heater.

 

[Indiana Ken]

(quoted from post at 18:30:32 01/04/12) would it be safe to use blocks of styrofoam to insulate the top of a elec. water heater?
thanks.

Foam insulation is being used in some of the newer water heaters. I recently changed out my water heater. I went from a propane unit with 3/4" of fiberglass insulation to electric (Whirlpool) with 3" of foam insulation, top bottom and sides. There are different types of foam so you may want to test a piece of what you plan to use.

Also, for added energy savings you may want to add the rubber flow check valves if your current water heater does not have them. They help reduce the heat loss by separating the heated water in the tank from the water in the uninsulated inlet and outlet plumbing lines.

 

[Jeff-oh]

If you have a scanning thermometer see if heat loss out the top is really an issue. I save loads of electric on the hot water heater by using a timer. This allows me to only heat the water when we are home and need it.

I just last week installed the pictured intermatic HW heater timer pictured. It replaced one that finally wore-out after 15 years.

This one has a 7-day programable timer so you can set it as required. I have it come on at 4:30am and shut off a 6:50am so I have good hot water for morning showers. Then come on again before we get home from work. I shift the programming for our weekend schedule and the days wife is home.

There is a LED on light and a convinient over-ride button. This allows us to turn the power on if we are doing laundry, dishes or mid-day shower and need water at it's hottest or a lot of it.

Easy to install, I got mine off of Amazon for ~$62 with free shipping.

 

[Don Norris]

If you can hold your hand on it for ten seconds then you're safe w/ styrofoam.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Jeff.. Just can't pick that up on Amazon. what is its nomenclature please.

 

[Jeff-oh]

You can search Water heater timer and see them all.

This one is
Intermatic EH40 240-Volt Electronic Water Heater Timer

Price: $60.24
Here is the link to the page

 

[Jeff-oh]

FYI, if you do get one...

I mounted it by taking a metal electric box clamp/coupling through the WH electric panel knock out and the timer box. I had the threads pointing up. Slipped the timer box on the clamp using one of the timer's bottom knock outs. The clamp nut holds the two part tight.

I have flexable metal shielded wire coming from the wall to the back of the box.