Heating your water is an expensive task that usually represents 20-40% of your utility bill. Wrapping your water heater with an insulation blanket can save some of this money by slowing the rate of temperature drop as the water rests in your tank. With the water staying hotter for a longer period of time, the water heater remains off more of the time and will save you money and energy use.
Not all water heaters need a blanket however, some energy-efficient models have a thick layer of insulation inside the tank that is sufficient enough. Insulation blankets for water heaters less protected against heat loss are available at home centers and hardware stores. You can install one in a few easy steps that requires a few cuts for fitting. Some blankets are even manufactured to fit certain models and require no cutting at all. For these blankets, you need to know your water heater size in gallons and usually the manufacturer.
