SJ-80 5mm Polyethylene Water Heater Blanket Insulation, Fits 20-80 Gallon Tanks, Energy Star Certified, Easy to Install & Clean, No Fiberglass, Non-Toxic

We decided to choose the foil-wrap style of water heater blanket for several reasons. 1. The look is very neat. 2. The water heater is in a closet that protects it from the open air. 3. The fiberglass blankets can be unruly to fit, and the open edges can become frayed, get dirty and look messy.After reading the installation instructions provided with the product, I also watched a YouTube installation video made by ProDex to watch the process for installing the Smart Jacket blanket. We only needed a pen, a razor blade, and measuring tape.Step 1. (Image 1) We dusted and wiped-down all water heater surfaces and removed the bolts securing the safety straps to the water heater. This allowed full unblocked access all the way around the water heater.Step 2. The instructions indicate to start at the bottom and work your way up the water heater. We decided to place the seam on the right-hand side of the tank because it was most accessible and still not visible. The first placement took the longest to fit the blanket around the gas control valve & igniter, the air intake cover, and the drain-cock. The blanket is easy to cut with a razor and straight-edge, making clean, neat cuts that fit together tightly for taping.Step 3. (Image 2): We made a couple of templates to get the fit behind the gas control valve assembly and around the tank drain-cock correct. When installing the lower blanket, we got it in place first, and placed two pieces of tape at the top and bottom of the seam, pulling it tight together. Once in place, we ran a strip of metal tape the length of the seam. In general, we did not use the two rows of self-adhesive strips on the back of the blanket to attach the blanket to the tank. We didn't want to adhere anything to the labels on the tank. However, once the bottom blanket was in place, we used the bottom row of adhesive strip. We peeled the backing off the bottom row only, pressing the adhesive strip to the bottom of the tank to anchor the bottom of the blanket to the tank and hold it in place.Step 4. (Image 3). We fitted the second blanket section, pulling it snug against the top edge of the bottom blanket. Once pulled tight and tacked with tape, we ran a strip of metal tape the length of the seam only. We did not tape the second section to the first. It's not going anywhere and there won't be heat loss. The two straight edges of the blankets meet evenly.Step 5. (Image 4): The instructions say to put the water heater crown on last. It's easiest if you fit it first and trim the crown to the sides of the tank. This was easy to do using a sharp razor blade, using the side of the tank as a guide. We had to make a couple of templates to get the holes in the right places and know where to cut the slit in order to fit the crown around the vent-hood and incoming (cold) and outgoing (hot) water pipes.Step 6. (Image 5): We precut the last piece of blanket, only needing a piece 9" tall. We also made a template to fit the blanket around the temperature pressure relief valve (TP valve). First, we fitted the blanket around the tank, around the TP valve and tacked the seam at the center and bottom, leaving the top seam open. Like we did at the bottom, we only used the very top adhesive strip in this case. Starting at one edge, we removed the paper from the adhesive strip a few inches at a time, pressing it against the tank and against the raw edge of the insulation crown piece. Be careful pulling the paper off the adhesive, it had a tendency to tear. Once done, then we sealed the side seam of the last top blanket piece with a strip of metal tape.We did not run metal tape on the two seams around the circumference of the tank. They fit tightly and if the blanket must be removed, it's easiest to have one seam on the right to cut. The job took about 3-hours.

I close up my house for the winter, and rather than leave heat on in the crawl space (which is insulated) and empty the hot water heater, I installed this blanket. It is wonderful! Easy to put on, tape adheres well, and the insulation is sufficient to keep the water from freezing. I expect it may save me money in the summer as I plan to leave it on.

First I was skeptical about how well this would insulate but after having it on for about a week it seem to keep the water hot longer. It wasn't that hard to put on either. The only thing is you have to get your on tape. The tape that comes with it is very thin and doesn't stick well. Overall it works decent and I would buy this again if needed.

So I wanted to add some insulation to our water heater to make it more efficient. After looking at a variety of products, I chose this one. When I opened the package, there is a simple set of instructions and 4 pieces of insulation including the top which comes in 2 pieces. After measuring, I cut the pieces to the proper lengths and then removed the tape covering the adhesive strips. I created "flaps" over the access panels because I did not want to put adhesion there. I then measured the top, cut the respective openings and taped it down. I added a picture so you can see how I did it. Took me about 30 min in total counting measuring and adding it slowly so as not to let the tape stick before I wanted it to. Good product for the price.

Our outdoor cats live in our laundry room which is separate from the house. I had a fiberglass blanket on the water heater and those little jerks shredded it. Literally shredded. I found this one while searching for a new one. Everyone who left a review mentions how easy it is to install and holy crap, they’re absolutely right! Not only was it easy to install but it looks pretty spiffy, too. It also looks as if it will really help with heat loss far better than the fiberglass one. If those furry jerks tear this one up, I’m revoking their laundry room privileges!

Good solid materials. I did not use the self sticking material that is on the inside of the insulation, as I found it easier to manage with a roll of tape made for insulation. I had no room in the back of the water heater to work with it but the insulation itself fit in between the wall and water heater. No idea how much heat loss this wrap will save but from the looks of it, will definitely be more than what was on it before which was: "NOTHING".

I am happy with the end result. My water heater is now surrounded with a cozy blanket. The rest of this review is about the install. Having two people would make it easier but I did it myself. Removing the backing of the stickers was really dificult and easily made it take twice as long to install. Another complaint and warning is that the instructions are taped onto the blanket. Poor choice. Be sure to carefully cut the tape leaving half of it on the blanket. I pulled very gently but still ripped a hole in the shiny exterior of the blanket. You should use a brand new razor blade to do the cutting if at all possible. I felt like I was wrapping a Christmas present especially when putting on the top. NOTE: I did not cut the blanket at all. It was a bit big in circumference and the top was also oversized. I doubled up in some areas and I'd suggest you do that too. The top I cut in maybe 12 places to allow the blanket to nicely wrap around the circle of the hot water heater. It came with shiny tape which was a nice suprise. The way I did it, I wish they included 2 more yards of that stuff. I'd suggest you buy more tape although not really necessary. I would buy this product again. That big negative is how hard it was to remove the tape backing on the blanket panels.