RichK wrote:
Hi All,

All the talk about efficiency, lightbulbs heating the house, etc. Makes me
think about water heater efficiency.

I assume, the published efficiency of a water heater is what it takes to
keep the water at the set temp vs the entergy input. So anything getting
out of the heater thorugh the insulattion is a loss.

This may be true in the summer, when you don't want to heat your basement.
But in the winter, the losses into the basement are not real losses, as
such.

I'm wondering: is the heater transfer from the gas burner to water more
efficient, than by comparison heat transfer from furnace burner to the air
(assume 80% furnace, no fancy controls).

Reason for this question is: Does it really make sense to insulate the
water heater and hot water pipes, as some people do, in the winter
("blanket" type)?

My guess is that one can remove heat from the heater exchanger of the
furnace faster, than transfer it to water

Rich

Probably depends. Would you heat your basement otherwise? If the heat
leaking from the heater and pipes keeps the basement warmer than you
need it to be then that heat would in effect be wasted. If you heat
your basement anyway, then I guess it would depend on how efficient
your water heater is compared to your furnace. Not insulating your
pipes will waste water when you take a shower, etc, as you wait for the
pipes to heat up, but for most that is probably not a lot in terms of
money.