As temperatures begin to dip, most homeowners focus on keeping their homes warm and their pipes protected from the cold. But there’s another area that often gets overlooked during winter prep: your water heater. Just like insulating your home helps keep the heat where it belongs, adding insulation to your water heater tank can help it perform more efficiently during the colder months. But is it always necessary? Let’s take a closer look.

Why Water Heater Insulation Matters

Your water heater works hard all year long, but winter puts extra strain on it. When the temperature drops, the water entering your home is colder, so your water heater must work harder — and run longer — to warm it up. This can increase energy use and utility costs.

Then there’s water heater insulation, which helps reduce standby heat loss – the heat your water heater loses while hot water is simply sitting in the tank. The more heat the tank retains, the less energy it needs to reheat the water.

When Insulating Your Water Heater Makes Sense

Adding a water heater blanket or jacket can offer noticeable benefits, especially if:

  • You have an older water heater. Units older than about 10 years typically have less built-in insulation.
  • Your water heater is in a cold area, such as a garage, unfinished basement, attic, or outdoor utility closet.
  • Your utility bills have been rising, especially during the winter months.
  • Your water doesn’t stay hot as long, or your hot water supply seems to run out faster than usual.

In these situations, insulating the tank can help reduce energy waste and keep hot water more consistent.

When You Shouldn’t Add Insulation

Not all water heaters should be wrapped. In fact, adding insulation to the wrong unit can be unnecessary, and even unsafe.

So, for best results, skip the insulation if:

  • You have a newer high-efficiency model — these already come with well-sealed, built-in insulation.
  • Your manufacturer specifically advises against adding insulation.
  • You’re dealing with a gas water heater and can’t safely keep insulation away from the burner, exhaust, or top of the tank.

If you’re unsure, contact Anthony’s for dependable advice.

How Much Can You Save?

Depending on your home and your water heater’s age, insulating your tank can save up to 10% on water heating costs. It’s a low-cost, quick upgrade that can make a noticeable difference, especially ruing the winter months.

If you’re interested in cutting your hot water utility costs but aren’t sure whether you should be adding water heater insulation, contact us today for more information or to schedule a whole house plumbing inspection.

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Our inspections cover it all, including your water heater…inside and out. your home stay comfortable during the coldest months. If you’re not sure whether your unit would benefit, a quick inspection from a licensed plumber can give you the answer — and ensure the job is done safely. Contact Zach Heating & Cooling today.