Quote:
Originally Posted by jtbo
I wrapped my electric water heater with that
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Don't add insulation over the thermostat and heating element covers of an electric water heater. That can make the thermostats overheat and burn up.
Happened to my parents' water heater twice. Fortunately it didn't catch fire. Smelled sort of like a burning orange, stunk up the whole house.
If the exterior of a water heater is not warm to the touch, or is at or very close to ambient temperature, then the existing insulation is as good as required. Adding more won't do a thing.
In the long term, replacing an old water heater that doesn't have good enough insulation should save more electricity than adding insulation to the old one.
Could also upgrade the elements and thermostats along with the added insulation but by then you're thisclose to the cost of a new water heater.