Does your water heater need insulation?

The Florida Home Partnership is providing free water heater blankets to area residents as part of its continuing energy conservation efforts. Water heater blanket packages can be reserved, and then picked up at the partnerships main office at 201 14th Ave. SE, Suite H, Ruskin.

On average, water heating costs homeowners between $400 and $600 annually, said Earl Pfeiffer, the partnerships executive director. One way to cut this cost is to insulate the water heater, which can reduce standby heat losses by 25 to 45 percent.

Making these blankets available to the community is consistent with our mission of helping keep the cost of housing low, he continued. Energy efficiency is one major way to control home operating costs.

A short, six-minute video on how to install the blankets is available at http://www.flhome.org. While newer water heater models may not need the additional insulation, homeowners with models older than 10 years, that are warm to the touch or have an R value of less than 24, may.

The water heater blanket packages, including written installation instructions, are available while supplies last. Residents are limited to one blanket per home but residents with two tanks can request an additional package. Apartment and business owners may also make special requests to reserve packages.

Scheduled pick-up times are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Packages must be picked up within one week of the reservation, otherwise they may be redistributed without notice.

To reserve a package, call (813) 672-7889 or email sara@flhome.org.

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Does your water heater need insulation?