How to Properly Insulate a Water Heater
The world of home comfort can be divided into two categories: things that you absolutely need a professional for, and things you can do yourself. Sometimes the line between the two categories seems simple, but it can often get blurry with people trying to do things that take experience and training to do. One of those things is working on your water heater.
Water heaters are powerful, efficient systems that provide your home with hot water. For such an important piece of your home, it’s important that you don’t try anything outside of your wheelhouse. When it comes to something like water heater repair in Maryville, TN, you should always trust trained professionals like the ones on our team.
This also includes the field of water heater insulation. Let’s talk about how a professional can properly insulate your water heater, and why you might want to refrain from doing this yourself.
Water Heaters Already Have Some Insulation
If you have a tank water heater, then you might already know that the materials that the tank is made out of already help insulate the water. There is usually a layer of glass in the tank, as well as insulation materials outside of that glass that help keep the heat inside the system as opposed to flowing outward. This means that while homeowners might just see a naked tank in their basement providing hot water, it’s actually pretty well insulated already, it’s just impossible to see from the outside!
Also, it’s important to gauge the type of insulation a water heater has. Many insulation materials that come with the professional installation of a water heater are perfectly fine for the duration of the system’s lifespan. Consult with one of our professionals—we’ll be explicit and tell you when your water heater requires additional insulation.
Some Insulation Materials Can Lead to Mold Growth and Other Issues
One of the biggest problems we notice with homemade, DIY water heater insulation jobs is the fact that the materials can get damp and lead to some serious problems.
For starters, unless you use very particular water heater insulation materials, if that insulation gets wet, it can lead to mold growth in your basement or crawlspace. This growth will get worse very quickly because the warmth emanating from your water heater is just enough to mix with the damp water and cause bacteria and mold to grow at alarming rates.
Also, some materials can degrade over time and release particles in the air that make your home’s indoor air quality start to suffer. That’s why we steer any homeowners we talk to away from DIY water heater insulation work because it can lead to some pretty awful problems that are almost impossible to see coming.
Come to Our Team for Help
If you believe your water heater requires additional insulation, then don’t hesitate to call our team. We have equipment that can measure the heat loss of your water heater and determine whether or not additional insulation is needed. If it is, we can perform this work for you.
Contact Fannon & Sons Heating Cooling for water heater repairs you can count on! Welcome to the Family!
