Insulating Hot Water Tank

Higgy · 11-11-08, 11:54 AM

So I went out and purchased an insulation kit for the hot water tank this weekend and installed it. It seems to fit pretty well, but the only issues that I had with it is that the tape that came with it, doesn't seem to stick very well. And there are also some places on the blanket that I'd like to tape up as I don't like fiberglass insulation opened up for my family to breath in. If anyone has any suggestions on a type of tape that I can use, let me know. I'd like to use a tape that can be removed if I ever have to replace the tank and reuse the blanket (although I'm leaning towards electric for the next one), otherwise I may need to just use duct tape, but I'd rather not as it looks ugly and it would be hard to pull off if I ever needed to. And yes, I forgot to take pics of the before shots.

As you will see, I also put foam insulation around all the hot water pipes.

The other thing I did was to add a UVC air treatment system to the furnace. It's suppose to kill all the bugs in your furnace as well as clean the air.

Insulated hot water tank. I cut some holes for the relief valve as well as the main control panel (which I'm going to tape closed). And to the right you can see the UVC Filter on the furnace (no that cord will not stay like that...I'm going to get an extension and move it up the furnace).

Relief valve. I'd like to tape that fiberglass up so that we're not breathing that in.

I'd also like to tape the top. As you can see I also have the foam around the hot water pipe.

The taped side isn't sticking very well. I'd like to retape it with something better.

Up close, you can see it's coming loose.

This is the UVC filter. You basically just cut a hole into the furnace, and place the tube inside. The tube lasts a year and it is suppose to clean the air. I do find it a bit cleaner in the house. It's suppose to kill allergens and what not as well.

The box for it.

If anyone has any suggestions for the tape, I'd much appreciate any ideas. Also if you have any comments on anything else, please feel free. Thanks!

Daox · 11-11-08, 12:02 PM

I wouldn't worry about the fiberglass being exposed and breathing it in. Its not going to come apart unless you mess around with it and pull the fiberglass. I have no idea what kinda tape to use though.

Tony Raine · 11-11-08, 01:00 PM

Duct Tape!

you can even get it in white

cmittle · 11-11-08, 01:33 PM

No comment on the tape, but I'm really interested in the Swordfish. I'm very allergic to dust mites (and sadly cats). I'm curious what motivated your purchase of this unit, are you (or someone in your family allergic to something), or just an overall better health thing? If it was allergies have you noticed any improvements since installing it?

Cory

SVOboy · 11-11-08, 02:18 PM

Thanks for posting! You reminded me that I need to do this while I'm home over break,

knowbodies · 11-11-08, 02:28 PM

I'm curious as to what kind of insulation you used. When I insulated my water heater, I used foil backed fiberglass insulation and taped it in place using foil tape. The foil increases the effectiveness of the insulation by reflecting heat back into the water tank. Your wrap looks like it's a plastic material so I imagine house wrap tape would work but if you have some duck tape hanging around, that would be okay too.

A couple of other random thoughts. Never insulate the top of a gas fired water heater - you could block the chimney vent. For added bling factor, wrap your water with an additional layer silver Mylar to trap even more heat - available in large sheets as an emergency blanket in the camping aisle of your local hardware store.

Higgy · 11-11-08, 02:55 PM

Yup, I know about the gas water heater. Mine is actually electric though. It was on the instructions to not put insulation on the top if it was a gas one.

Ya, it's just a plastic covering the R5.3 insulation. It was only $30.

I'll check to see if our local stores have white duct tape and just use that.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

Cory, I bought the swordfish for overall health mostly. Although my 2 year old has started coughing a lot at night lately, and I wasn't sure up until last Friday what it was, but the doctor said he may have some aszma which runs in our family although no one has anything really full blown. I think I may have a bit of allergies, but just a touch. I just put it in a week ago and I've noticed the air feeling cleaner myself. I'll tell you next spring how well it really worked. It's apparently also suppose to help kill virus's in the air so you're not suppose to get sick as much. I read good things about it before I purchased it so we'll see. I get sick just about every month in the winter, and if I stay healthy...well let's just say I'll know for sure if this thing is working or not.

I have read a lot about people saying it reduced their allergy suffering a lot...it didn't get rid of it, but it alleviated enough to justify buying it. I'll keep you posted.

Higgy · 11-13-08, 09:34 PM

Just wanted to say thanks to letting me know about the white duct tape. I bought some and taped up the insulation and now it's well held together AND it looks good. The grey duct tape would have made it look junky. And since my basement is unfinished and everyone can see the tank, this makes it look decent. THANKS!

iamgeo · 11-23-10, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Higgy

Cory, I bought the swordfish for overall health mostly. Although my 2 year old has started coughing a lot at night lately, and I wasn't sure up until last Friday what it was, but the doctor said he may have some aszma which runs in our family although no one has anything really full blown. I think I may have a bit of allergies, but just a touch.

Do you have a cat? Even though you may have had it forever it is not uncommon for kids to suddenly have reactions to it.

I have read about those UV light products. From what I have read you would need a rather large one to actually benefit from it.

Higgy · 11-24-10, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamgeo

Do you have a cat? Even though you may have had it forever it is not uncommon for kids to suddenly have reactions to it.

I have read about those UV light products. From what I have read you would need a rather large one to actually benefit from it.

He's ok now. It must have been a phase he was going through. Or there wasn't enough humidity in his room as this was happening mostly during the winter in the dry months. We use a humidifier now when anyone coughs and boom...gone.

11-11-08, 11:54 AM	#1
Higgy The Gardener Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manitoba - Canada Posts: 492 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Insulating Hot Water Tank So I went out and purchased an insulation kit for the hot water tank this weekend and installed it. It seems to fit pretty well, but the only issues that I had with it is that the tape that came with it, doesn't seem to stick very well. And there are also some places on the blanket that I'd like to tape up as I don't like fiberglass insulation opened up for my family to breath in. If anyone has any suggestions on a type of tape that I can use, let me know. I'd like to use a tape that can be removed if I ever have to replace the tank and reuse the blanket (although I'm leaning towards electric for the next one), otherwise I may need to just use duct tape, but I'd rather not as it looks ugly and it would be hard to pull off if I ever needed to. And yes, I forgot to take pics of the before shots. As you will see, I also put foam insulation around all the hot water pipes. The other thing I did was to add a UVC air treatment system to the furnace. It's suppose to kill all the bugs in your furnace as well as clean the air. Insulated hot water tank. I cut some holes for the relief valve as well as the main control panel (which I'm going to tape closed). And to the right you can see the UVC Filter on the furnace (no that cord will not stay like that...I'm going to get an extension and move it up the furnace). Relief valve. I'd like to tape that fiberglass up so that we're not breathing that in. I'd also like to tape the top. As you can see I also have the foam around the hot water pipe. The taped side isn't sticking very well. I'd like to retape it with something better. Up close, you can see it's coming loose. This is the UVC filter. You basically just cut a hole into the furnace, and place the tube inside. The tube lasts a year and it is suppose to clean the air. I do find it a bit cleaner in the house. It's suppose to kill allergens and what not as well. The box for it. If anyone has any suggestions for the tape, I'd much appreciate any ideas. Also if you have any comments on anything else, please feel free. Thanks! Last edited by Higgy; 11-11-08 at 11:58 AM..

11-11-08, 12:02 PM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I wouldn't worry about the fiberglass being exposed and breathing it in. Its not going to come apart unless you mess around with it and pull the fiberglass. I have no idea what kinda tape to use though. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-11-08, 01:00 PM	#3
Tony Raine Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 57 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Duct Tape! you can even get it in white

11-11-08, 01:33 PM	#4
cmittle Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 56 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	No comment on the tape, but I'm really interested in the Swordfish. I'm very allergic to dust mites (and sadly cats). I'm curious what motivated your purchase of this unit, are you (or someone in your family allergic to something), or just an overall better health thing? If it was allergies have you noticed any improvements since installing it? Cory

11-11-08, 02:18 PM	#5
SVOboy Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 291 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Thanks for posting! You reminded me that I need to do this while I'm home over break,

11-11-08, 02:28 PM	#6
knowbodies Home Improvement Goon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Moose Jaw, SK, CA Posts: 96 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I'm curious as to what kind of insulation you used. When I insulated my water heater, I used foil backed fiberglass insulation and taped it in place using foil tape. The foil increases the effectiveness of the insulation by reflecting heat back into the water tank. Your wrap looks like it's a plastic material so I imagine house wrap tape would work but if you have some duck tape hanging around, that would be okay too. A couple of other random thoughts. Never insulate the top of a gas fired water heater - you could block the chimney vent. For added bling factor, wrap your water with an additional layer silver Mylar to trap even more heat - available in large sheets as an emergency blanket in the camping aisle of your local hardware store.

11-11-08, 02:55 PM	#7
Higgy The Gardener Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manitoba - Canada Posts: 492 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Yup, I know about the gas water heater. Mine is actually electric though. It was on the instructions to not put insulation on the top if it was a gas one. Ya, it's just a plastic covering the R5.3 insulation. It was only $30. I'll check to see if our local stores have white duct tape and just use that. Thanks for all the help everyone. Cory, I bought the swordfish for overall health mostly. Although my 2 year old has started coughing a lot at night lately, and I wasn't sure up until last Friday what it was, but the doctor said he may have some aszma which runs in our family although no one has anything really full blown. I think I may have a bit of allergies, but just a touch. I just put it in a week ago and I've noticed the air feeling cleaner myself. I'll tell you next spring how well it really worked. It's apparently also suppose to help kill virus's in the air so you're not suppose to get sick as much. I read good things about it before I purchased it so we'll see. I get sick just about every month in the winter, and if I stay healthy...well let's just say I'll know for sure if this thing is working or not. I have read a lot about people saying it reduced their allergy suffering a lot...it didn't get rid of it, but it alleviated enough to justify buying it. I'll keep you posted.

11-13-08, 09:34 PM	#8
Higgy The Gardener Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manitoba - Canada Posts: 492 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Just wanted to say thanks to letting me know about the white duct tape. I bought some and taped up the insulation and now it's well held together AND it looks good. The grey duct tape would have made it look junky. And since my basement is unfinished and everyone can see the tank, this makes it look decent. THANKS!