Hot water cylinder wraps
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What is a cylinder wrap?
Hot water cylinder wraps are insulation wrapped around hot water cylinders to reduce heat loss. They are an en affordable way of keeping your overall energy bill down.
How does it work?
When a cylinder is well insulated, less of the energy used to heat the water warm is lost. Many houses have hot water cylinders that were installed in the 1950s and 1960s and are poorly insulated.
Your model of cylinder
You can work out how efficient your hot water cylinder is by checking the date of manufacture on the label:
- an A-grade cylinder has a blue and white A ‘watermark’ symbol, or says it is MEPS compliant. Generally these were installed after 2003
- a B-grade cylinder is from 1977 onwards unless it is A-grade
- C and D-grade cylinders were installed pre-1977.
Types of cylinder wraps
Woollen with cotton exterior
Fixed with pins or tags and tied with a draw cord in the top edge of the wrap.
Woollen wrap with foil exterior
Fixed with duct tape and cable tied to close the top of the wrap.
Fibreglass or polyester with silver paper or foil exterior
Fixed with foil tape, they usually come with a round lid that is also taped on.
Installation
For instructions on installing hot water cylinder wraps refer to NZS 4246:2006 Energy Efficiency – Installing Insulation in Residential Buildings [EECA website.]