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Homeowners are always looking for ways to decrease their monthly bills. One way to do that is by improving the efficiency of their home systems. For instance, traditional tank-style water heaters constantly heat and reheat water, which isn’t a highly efficient way to supply a home with hot water. If a more efficient (though pricey) tankless system isn’t in your budget and it’s not yet time to replace your water heater, consider taking steps to increase your hot water heater’s efficiency and save you money.
One of the simplest methods to do this is with a water heater cover. This water heater blanket insulation will help hold heat longer and keep the water heater from running as often. With this minor addition, you’ll be able to lessen your home’s energy consumption and lower your monthly heating bill. Our favorite was the Frost King SP60 Water Heater Insulation Blanket, a fiberglass product with superior insulating abilities. We tested six models to help determine the best water heater blankets for your home.
- BEST OVERALL: Frost King SP60 Water Heater Insulation Blanket
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: US Energy Products 80-Gallon Water Heater Blanket Kit
↓ Jump to Review - BEST LIGHTWEIGHT: Reflecto-Foil 60-Gallon Water Heater Jacket
↓ Jump to Review - BEST MULTIPURPOSE: US Energy Products 10-Foot Reflective Foam Insulation
↓ Jump to Review - BEST EASY INSTALLATION: SmartJacket 80-Gallon Water Heater Blanket
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR SMALL TANKS: Reflecto-Foil 40-Gallon Water Heater Jacket
↓ Jump to Review
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 6 |
| Time spent testing | 3 weeks |
| Tests performed | 2 |
| Price range | $24 to $73 |
Our Top Picks
Choosing the best water heater blanket for your needs is a fairly straightforward process, and you’ll have all the information you need after you read up on the top products described below. Be sure to keep our considerations in mind when comparing water heater blankets to make an informed choice.
Best Overall
Frost King SP60 Water Heater Insulation Blanket
Our Ratings: Installation 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Material: Vinyl-backed fiberglass
- Size: 3 inches thick by 90 inches long by 60 inches wide
- Insulating power: R-10
What We Like
- Variety of sizes available
- Efficient insulator
What We Don’t Like
- Messy installation
- Personal protective gear required
- Included tape not sticky enough
When it comes to insulating a water heater as much as possible, Frost King’s SP60 water heater insulation blanket is tough to beat. This fiberglass insulation is 3 inches thick, providing an insulation value of R-10. The blanket is nonflammable and has a foil face to reflect as much heat back into the tank as possible. At 90 inches long by 60 inches wide, this product is suitable for heaters up to 60 gallons. Different size options are available for smaller heaters.
Once installed, the Frost King blanket does a great job. That said, be prepared for installation. Since the product contains fiberglass, we recommend wearing long sleeves, gloves, eye protection, and a dust mask. Also, take the time to measure your water heater before unrolling the hot water heater cover. Once you unroll it, be prepared to quickly cut and install to ensure the least amount of exposure to the fiberglass. Although this product comes with foil tape, we were unimpressed by the quality and backed it up with some extra foil tape.
Yes, we disliked the installation, but we can’t argue with the results.This super-thick blanket truly made our hot water heater snug for the winter.
Get the Frost King water heater blanket at Amazon or Walmart.
Best Bang for the Buck
US Energy Products 80-Gallon Water Heater Blanket Kit
Our Ratings: Installation 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Material: Reflective foam
- Size: 3/16 inch thick by 84 inches long by 48 inches wide
- Insulating power: R-5
What We Like
- Easy and clean to install
- Multiple layers
- Tape and cutter included
What We Don’t Like
- Not as thick as other products
- Needed to supplement included tape with our own
If you’re researching water heater blankets, saving money is already on your mind. The US Energy Products heater blanket kit provides everything you need from blanket to tape to cutter for one affordable price. This is an ideal choice for someone who doesn’t have a lot of tools on hand. With its two layers of air bubbles inside the foil face, this roll of foil-type insulation offers both reflective insulation and a thermal barrier.
This hot water heater wrap comes with enough material to wrap water heaters between 20 and 80 gallons. It features a commercial-grade design that’s resistant to tearing for added durability. We appreciated the design with thoughts of our curious cats in mind; we won’t have to be concerned about insulation strewn across our utility room. This kit came with tape included and although it was probably sufficient to get the job done, we do recommend purchasing extra tape just in case so you don’t run out of tape in the middle of the job. Personally, we used a bit more than was included, but it’s possible we went a little overboard.
Get the US Energy Products 80-gallon water heater blanket at Amazon or US Energy Products.
Best Lightweight
Reflecto-Foil 60-Gallon Water Heater Jacket
Our Ratings:Installation 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Material: Reflective foil
- Size: 3/16 inch thick by 72 inches long by 76 inches wide
- Insulating power: Unspecified
What We Like
- Neat look after installation
- Easy to cut
- Fits into some tight spots
- Includes tape and spacers
What We Don’t Like
- Insulating power not listed
At first glance, the Reflecto-Foil insulated blanket for a water heater seems unimpressive. However, upon closer examination you’ll see that even though it is lightweight there is a honeycomb of insulation sandwiched between the foil layers. With this water heater jacket, you can maintain tank temperature without having to manage a bulky covering. This kit comes with a roll of foil-type insulation that measures 72 inches long by 76 inches wide, allowing users to insulate tanks between 50 and 60 gallons. It’s also Class 1/Class A fire rated.
Because our water heater is crammed into a tight corner, the lightweight design of this insulation blanket made it the ideal choice. We appreciated how easy it was to cut (we found a box cutter and scissors equally effective) especially when fitting it around pipes. The kit includes the foil tape and spacers (small chunks of foam used to make a consistent circumference around the tank) necessary for installing it on a variety of tank sizes.
Get the Reflecto-Foil 60-gallon water heater blanket at Amazon.
Best Multipurpose
US Energy Products 10-Foot Reflective Foam Insulation
Our Ratings: Installation 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Material: Reflective foil with foam core
- Size: ⅛ inch thick by 120 inches long by 48 inches wide
- Insulating power: R-8
What We Like
- Good for installation in tight spots
- Enough for multiple uses
- Can cut with scissors
- Easy to fit around pipes
What We Don’t Like
- Not as thick as some other products
- Not tall enough for larger tanks
If you have several insulation projects in your plans, the reflective foam water heater insulation blanket from US Energy Products can meet all your needs with one purchase. After wrapping your water heater, you’ll have plenty of leftover insulation, as the aluminum-polyester foam insulation comes in a 10-foot roll. We actually had enough to wrap our water heater and our neighbor’s! Since it’s only 48 inches wide, though, it might not be suitable for taller water heaters.
This product includes a foam thermal barrier and a reflective foil surface to reflect heat back into the tank. It is an easy-to-work-with material that has uses beyond water heaters; we think it would be ideal as a water heater pipe insulation product. It features a fire-resistant rating of Class 1/Class A, and since it’s a fiberglass-free product, you don’t have to be concerned about working with loose fibers.
Get the US Energy Products 10-foot water heater blanket at Amazon or US Energy Products.
More Great Options
We wanted to mention these additional products that have traits that may make them the ideal choice for your home. Although these products were not tested, we are recommending them on the strength of our research, consumer reviews and additional information from the manufacturer.
Best Easy Installation
SmartJacket 80-Gallon Water Heater Blanket
Product Specs
- Material: Polyethylene and double-sided aluminum foil
- Size: ⅛ inch thick by 80 inches long by 24 inches wide
- Insulating power: R-7.1
What We Like
- Clean and easy installation
- Works in tight spots
- Thin material for easy application around fittings
What We Don’t Like
- Very sticky tape; separate insulation tape might be better
Want to retain a high level of insulation power but don’t want to work with fiberglass and all the safety precautions that go along with it? Check out this water heater blanket from SmartJacket. This ⅛-inch-thick foil-type insulation kit comes in an 80-inch-long roll, which is plenty of material to insulate water heaters with tanks between 20 and 80 gallons.
The ease of installation makes this a good choice for newbie DIYers. It comes with the foil tape necessary to secure it around the tank, but it’s a good idea to invest in an extra roll just in case. The material is easy to cut for use around drains and burners, and while there is no mention of fire resistance in the product information, foil isn’t flammable.
Get the SmartJacket water heater blanket at Amazon or Walmart.
Best for Small Tanks
Reflecto-Foil 40-Gallon Water Heater Jacket
Product Specs
- Material: Reflective foil
- Size: 3/16 inch thick by 76 inches long by 48 inches wide
- Insulating power: Unspecified
What We Like
- No fiberglass for a simple and clean installation
- Includes foil spacers and tape
What We Don’t Like
- Insulating power not listed
Buying a large kit to insulate a small tank can be a waste of money, so it’s more cost-effective to buy only the material you need. Reflecto-Foil’s water heater jacket is designed to work with water heater tanks up to 40 gallons to save cash and avoid wasted material.
This kit features a roll of Class 1/Class A fire-rated foil insulation, foil tape, and the spacers (small chunks of foam used to make a consistent circumference around the tank) necessary for a good fit. The roll of insulation measures 76 inches long by 48 inches wide to cover most smaller water heater tanks with ease. And because it’s fiberglass-free, there’s no need to worry about wearing long sleeves or other protective gear.
Get the Reflecto-Foil 40-gallon water heater blanket at Amazon.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose and Tested Water Heater Blankets
In choosing the best water heater blankets among those currently on the market, we looked at two top factors: material and size. Our list of recommendations covers the most popular types of water heater blanks, including thick fiberglass options as well as thinner foam and foil options.
We also made sure to include a range of sizes on our list with options to cover most water heater shapes. For oddly shaped water heaters with awkward piping, we included recommendations for several easy-to-cut options that can fit snugly around even the most difficult water heater shapes or those in tight spaces.
What to Consider When Choosing a Water Heater Blanket
Before shopping for a water heater blanket, read this section to understand the factors and features to keep in mind. This will help you make an informed decision.
Material
When perusing water heater blankets, you’ll notice that there are a few different types available. This mostly comes down to the type of insulating material. Some are easier to work with during installation than others, as they often need to be trimmed to fit individual water heaters.
- Fiberglass insulation traps heat with a barrier made from pockets of air. Empty space, such as an air pocket, does not conduct heat, so fiberglass insulation is highly effective at insulating a water heater. However, fiberglass insulation is messy, itchy, and no fun to work with, so it’s essential to wear long sleeves, long pants, a mask, gloves, and glasses when installing this insulation.
- Foil insulation works by reflecting escaping heat back into the water heater. It also creates a thermal barrier with small air bubbles sandwiched between the foil layers. This type of insulation is thinner and much easier to install, but it doesn’t do quite as good a job of insulating as fiberglass.
- Cotton and denim insulation, typically made from recycled clothing such as jeans, is fairly uncommon. Though it works similarly to fiberglass insulation and is reasonably effective, it doesn’t do the job quite as well as fiberglass or foil, yet is more expensive due to the production process. Plus, cotton and denim are not fire-resistant.
- Foil-faced foam insulation works similarly in theory to foil and fiberglass, using the reflective surface to reflect heat back to the tank. The foam also creates small air pockets. These insulators are usually easy to install and fire-resistant.
You may also find combinations of materials, such as fiberglass insulation with a foil face. This can offer the best of both worlds, as it uses a thick, insulating layer of air pockets and radiates heat back into the tank.
Size
Water heaters, like most appliances, come in different sizes. The size of house and family and the number of sinks and showers all affect how large a water heater a home needs. While water heaters range between 30 and 98 gallons, 40-, 50-, and 60-gallon tanks are the common sizes used in homes.
Water heater blankets also come in similar sizes, so it’s important to find one that will work for your tank. If you have a 50-gallon tank, finding a water heater blanket to fit it should be no problem. Water heater blankets large enough to fit 98-gallon tanks, commonly found in commercial settings, may be harder to track down.
Thickness
When it comes to materials such as fiberglass, cotton, and denim, the thicker the water heater blanket, the better it will be at insulating. A water heater located in a cool basement calls for a thicker blanket. Thicker blankets will do a better job of separating the cool air and the heat radiating from the tank than thinner ones.
Because foil works primarily by reflecting the heat instead of relying on an air-pocket barrier, it needn’t be thick to function efficiently. Most water heater blankets made with foil are less than ½ inch thick, which is another reason foil water heater blankets are so easy to work with.
Insulating Power
Just like your home’s insulation, water heater blankets come in a variety of insulation ratings. These ratings are described as R-value, where the R stands for resistance. The higher the R-value, the more resistance the insulation has against heat transfer. Essentially, more is better.
The highest R-value you’re likely to find for a residential water heater blanket is R-11, but values of R-7 and R-8 are more common. To get the most from your investment, it’s best to use the water heater blanket with the highest R-value.
It’s important to keep in mind, though, that foil-type insulation rarely offers an R-value; R-values apply to fiberglass and other similar types of insulation.
Fire Resistance
Water heaters have burner assemblies that get very hot. The point of insulating a water heater is to save energy and money, not cause a fire. Different water heater blanket materials have varying degrees of fire resistance to combat that risk. While the most common designation is Class 1/Class A, it’s helpful to know which types are the most fire resistant.
- Fiberglass and foil-type insulation are nonflammable.
- Cotton and denim are flammable and not likely to have a fire-resistance rating.
If fire resistance is of utmost importance, a fiberglass or foil water heater blanket is the way to go. Some fiberglass or foil products aren’t fire rated, but that doesn’t mean they’re unsafe. Just be sure to keep the insulation clear of the burner by a few inches.
Versatility
There are two types of water heaters: electric and gas. Electric water heaters have a heating element inside that energizes and heats the water that surrounds it. Gas water heaters have burners underneath that kick on to heat water through convection.
Fortunately, water heater blankets are interchangeable between the two water heater types. However, if you have a gas-powered heater, it’s crucial that the blanket doesn’t cover or otherwise obstruct the flue (aka exhaust) at the top. If you have an electric model, the blanket must not cover or obstruct its control box or access panel, typically located on the side of the tank. Also, be sure to cut the insulation back from the burner by at least 2 inches while installing.
FAQs
For additional information about buying and using the best water heater blanket, consider the answers to these frequently asked questions.
A great water heater blanket will offer a blend of insulation value, cost-effectiveness, and fire resistance.
It depends on the size of your tank. Generally speaking, manufacturers label their water heater blankets according to the size of the tank they’ll cover. If you’re unsure, measure your tank’s height and circumference, and compare it to the measurements on the package.
Water heater blankets are low maintenance, but fiberglass, cotton, and denim can begin to smell and stop insulating if they get wet. It’s a good idea to check on your water heater blanket a few times a year to ensure it’s still in good condition.
Undamaged water heater blankets may far outlast a water heater. The average gas water heater lasts between 8 and 12 years, while the average electric water heater lasts 10 to 15 years. A water heater blanket kept in good condition will outlast a water heater without issue.
The most efficient way to install a water heater blanket is to measure the height and circumference of your tank before unrolling the product, allowing for an extra 2 inches for the circumference so you can overlap the product. Premeasuring allows you to swiftly cut the product to size using cutter or scissors. Wrap the tank with the blanket, and secure it in place with foil tape placed vertically along the seam. Cover the top of the tank with two half circles of material, and secure it in place with foil tape. Ensure that you cut openings for the venting hood, pressure relief valve, burner access cover, and wiring connection box. Make the holes about 2 inches larger than each opening to allow airflow.
Any steps you can take to keep your water hot without additional reheating of the water is worth it. The water heater blanket does just this and is an inexpensive purchase. In most cases, you should be able to recoup your investment when installing an insulator blanket.
When properly installed, hot water heater blankets are safe to use. The most important thing is to ensure proper airflow around all fixtures by cutting slightly larger openings around valves, hoods, burners, etc. Don’t forget that some blankets contain fiberglass, and those installing the product should wear safety goggles, a dust mask, gloves, and long sleeves, then carefully clean the area after installation to remove any stray fiberglass fibers.
Meet the Tester
Jodi Webb is a DIYer who tests products with her contractor husband so readers get the advantages of both an expert’s and DIYer’s viewpoint. She visited several neighbors bearing water heater blankets and was able to test the product in a variety of setups.
Additional research provided by Tom Scalisi.
