Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee
I installed a store-bought tank blanket, and on pilot only nope, no way, is the water hot enough. .
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Just
buying a water heater "blanket" will usually NOT be enough. We all should know that most heat is lost on top ( we are always told to put heaviest insulation in our attic), therefore the biggest change has to be the top of your tank. It is the presence of the vent (that is only needed when heater burner kicks on) that makes fully insulating the top impossible if not at least impracticle. If you go to "pilot only", you don't need the 3" vent and therefore can heavily insulate the top of your tank. I would also put at least R19 batting of Owens Pink around the whole tank, leaving only the bottom near the pilot open. If you are conserned about the small amount of emmissions from the pilot, it is still far better to leave a 1/4" hole for that than a 3" hole for the full burn emmissions. A roll of insulation is cheap and could be recovered in 1 to 2 months of pilot only heating.
Please try "SUPER-INSULATING" your tank and then post again with your new findings. That will be important info for all of us to see.