Can house insulation be used to insulate an electric water heater?
I have done this to an electric tank before. I applied a two-inch thick layer of fibreglass insulation, wrapped it in vapour barrier, and taped the seams. I used regular roll fibreglass, cut a piece as long as the circumference of the tank, wrapped it around the tank, and taped the ends. I had to do this several times, working up from the bottom, to cover the tank. You must keep the cover away from any electrical connections. You may be able to buy a commercial insulating blanket for a hot water tank at a hardware store. For safety reasons, do not do this with a gas hot water tank. As the other poster stated, it’s a good idea to turn the thermostat down on the tank. If you cannot put your hand under the water running from a hot water tap, it is too hot. Electric tanks also require a certain amount of maintenance. The tanks build up sludge, which reduces their efficiency. You should drain the guck out every couple of years. You can do this by attaching a garden hose to the drain valve n
