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Article: Security blankets? (Letters).(water heater blanket)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Home Energy
- Article date:
- May 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Energy Auditor and Retrofitter. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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One of the items in my Green Team book recommends having a water heater blanket. My friend indicated that they aren't recommended any more if your heater is less than three years old. Which piece of advice is true?
Janice Dau
Lone Tree, Colorado
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Research Associate Jim Lutz replies:
Water heater standards changed over ten years ago (1990-91) to require more insulation. Any water heater installed since then will not benefit much from an insulating blanket. What is now recommended is that heat traps be installed on the water lines to prevent thermal siphoning of water between the tank and the piping system. ...