The Best Water Heater Blankets - Picks from Bob Vila

By Tom Scalisi, Jodi Webb

Updated on Oct 30, 2024 2:46 PM EDT

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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.

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.

Our Ratings: Installation 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Value 4.5/5

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.

Our Ratings: Installation 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Value 5/5

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.

Our Ratings:Installation 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Value 5/5

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.

Our Ratings: Installation 4.5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Value 5/5

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Contributor

Tom Scalisi is a freelance writer for some of the largest DIY and construction-related websites in the world. He also runs his own blog, RiddaBugs.com, which is a pest-control website that helps homeowners and renters choose their best pest-control options. He has a passion for building: Whether it’s a DIY project or an entire website, Tom loves creating something from the ground up, stepping back, and admiring a job well done.

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