Radiant Barrier insulation
 

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

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.

William W. Plummer wrote:
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.

True, I did not mean to sound like I was recommending the tankless, only
offering it as one alternative that would make a serious dent to standby
losses. Like any choice there are good and bad features.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to see if I can retrofit the
insulation jacket...since it wouldn't cost anything and I may just
experiment with/without using it as a control (also factoring cost of
gas, season, etc.).

Have a Happy Holiday!
Dave