How and why you should lag your hot water cylinder
If you want to save both money and the environment, then how and why you should lag your hot water cylinder (tank) is quite an important question.
Have a quick look at your hot water cylinder. If it’s not lagged, then you might as well run to the front door and throw a bunch of ten pound notes out into the garden. And even if your hot water cylinder does have some lagging, does it look worn, or old? If so, then you still could save money with a modern lagging device.
These days, most new hot water cylinders come complete with lagging; usually a foam lagging which is bonded to the cylinder’s outside. As heat insulators go, this is about the best you can get and it helps to keep the water hot for as long as possible. The foam is designed to last the life of the hot water cylinder.
But, older hot water cylinders, which are basically large copper tanks, might have a worn, or ill-fitting insulated jacket which can be easily updated, or worse still, no insulation whatsoever.
Buying a good insulated jacket (should be 80mm thick) should not cost more than £15, indeed many good examples can be bought for £10 and some might be even as cheap as £6 (although watch the quality with lower priced examples). And they reckon on a yearly saving of between £10 and £30, so, at the very least, it’s paid for itself in the first year. And if you combine the lagging of your hot water cylinder with say the lagging of your hot water pipes and then further insulation measures throughout your house (such as loft insulation), then that £10 saving could dramatically increase and save you a lot of money every day.
As to how to fit a hot water cylinder jacket, as with all jobs that can be done by yourself, make sure you are confident and capable enough to take on the task. If unsure, always seek professional help and advice.
But, fitting a jacket is technically a DIY job. First, get the right size of jacket. They usually are 80mm thick and come in two main sizes: 900mm x 450mm and a larger version at 1050mm x 450mm.
Firstly, let your cylinder go cold, as you don’t want burns from the copper tank. And make sure you’ve cleaned away any obstructions, so that you can get the jacket positioned without too much hassle.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but most jackets consist of segments that are tied together with cord. The jacket is tied to the top of the cylinder and then a series of bands help to secure it to the cylinder itself. The idea is for the jacket to fit snugly, with no gaps. Do not press, or force bits of the jacket where it doesn’t want to go.
And if you have any cables fitted to the tank, such as leading to the emersion heater cap, then make sure the jacket does not cover them.
Also, if you do fancy a little bit of heat in the cupboard where the cylinder is situated, you can always open up small gaps between the segments.
Okay, that’s it. Get the jacket on and you should feel an immediate benefit.
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