It is a known fact that a large portion of the electrical energy consumed in the residential setting goes towards water heating. By virtue of being one of the highest consumers of energy, the residential hot water system is also one of the greatest contributors to energy loss in residential buildings.

In order to protect the hot water system against energy loss, adding insulation to various components of the hot water system is essential. Find out more on this topic in the discussion below.

The Hot Water Storage Tank

The storage tank in a hot water system is a prime candidate for energy loss. This is why your hands will get hot after placing them on the tank for a short period of time. Heat energy is transferred from the tank to your hands. This is considered as loss of heat within the hot water system. Therefore, the hot water tank can lose significant amounts of heat if left uninsulated.

Insulation for hot water storage tanks often comes as an insulation jacket that is wrapped around the tank in order to minimise heat loss. The presence of an insulation jacket provides an additional obstacle through that heat must pass through before such heat is lost from the tank.

Much like blankets help to keep you warm at night by preventing heat loss, an insulation jacket also keeps heat loss on the storage tank to a minimum.

System Pipework

The pipework that runs through your hot water system is also a prime candidate for heat loss. For this reason, it is important to ensure that all pipes within the system are well insulated.

Insulation for pipework used on hot water systems often comes in the form of a fibreglass wrap into which the pipes are inserted. The fibreglass wrap is held in place using aluminium foil tape or using a wire.

Insulation is as important for hot water pipes as it is for pipes that carry cold water. When insulation is placed on cold water pipes, it helps to maintain favourable temperatures around the pipes in order to prevent freezing of the pipes.

Fittings and Connections

Lastly, fittings such as valves and pipe connectors also contribute to the loss of heat from your hot water system. For fittings and connectors, fibreglass insulation is often recommended due to its effectiveness and relative affordability.

Do not forget about insulation now that it's time for hot water system maintenance.