Tuesday 19 February 2013

Water Heater FAQS

Should I use an insulation blanket on my gas powered water heater? 

National Home Services installs brand new GSW water heaters made here in Ontario. Here is what GSW has to say about insulation blankets for gas water heaters: 
Insulation blankets available to the general public for external use on gas water heaters are not necessary with GSW products. The purpose of an insulation blanket is to reduce the standby heat loss encountered with storage tank heaters. Your GSW  water heater meets or exceeds the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act standards with respect to insulation and standby loss requirements, making an insulation blanket unnecessary. 
 WARNING- If you choose to apply an insulation blanket to your water heater, you should follow the instructions (see your water heater's instruction manual for identification of components mentioned below). Failure to follow these instructions can restrict the air flow required for proper combustion, resulting in fire, asphyxiation, serious personal injury or death. 
1. Do not apply insulation to the top of the water heater, as this will interfere with safe operation of the draft hood.
2. Do not cover the outer door, thermostat or temperature & pressure relief valve.
3. Do not allow insulation to come within 2" of the floor to prevent blockage of combustion air flow to the burner.
4. Do not cover the instruction manual. Keep it on the side of the water heater or nearby for future reference.
5. Do obtain new labels from GSW Water Heating for placement on the blanket directly over the existing labels.
6. Do inspect the insulation blanket to make certain it does not sag, thereby obstructing combustion air flow. 

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