Joseph Meehan wrote:

wrote:

Hello,
Has anyone tried Radiant Barrier insulation around the hot water tank?
In looking around the house, I noticed the current fiberglass jacket
has some gaps and appears to not quite fit the unit (it was installed
by previous owners). Would a radiant foil barrier be worth the effort
as a replacement (from what I've seen, probably about $40 or so).
Thank you,
Dave


I don't have a lot of respect for the radiant barrier insulation for
this use. It will help, but I would not expect much.

How much any kind of supplemental insulation on HW tanks is open to
question.

During the winter when you are heating your home, little or nothing is
gained as almost all the heat that you would save, ends up heating your
home. On the there side, in summer that heat must be removed by your A/C.

Most of the cost of most people's hot water is the cost of the water
used, not the heat loss from the HW heater. A tankless heater eliminates
all of this.

I agree. There is a point of diminishing returns where adding more
insulation in, say your ceiling, won't pay for itself in your life time.

But, a tankless heater will not cure everything. Like the length of her
showers.