Cylinder Insulation Jackets
What is
Cylinder Insulation
Hot water cylinders may be on the decline but latest stats suggesting that around 45% of properties do still have one (down from 77% in 2001) and that equates to around 9 million in the UK.
If your home falls into that category then you need to check the lagging as it’s one of the cheapest and easiest ways there is to save energy and money.
A hot water cylinder jacket reduces the amount of heat lost through the tank, which means you spend less money heating water up, and it stays hotter for longer. And, just because you already have a cylinder jacket doesn’t mean a top up, to a minimum 80mm, couldnt save you even more.
An outlay of around £20 to £40 could save you over £200 per year if your tank is not lagged and just a simple top up from 25mm to 80mm could save you around £50 a year … and, there’s even grants available in some parts of the UK!
If you’re insulating your cylinder you may also want to consider pipe insulation.
Insulating Cylinder Jacket Example
What are the main benefits of a cylider jacket?
You’re spending a good deal of money on energy to heat hot water which is stored in a large tank so that it’s ready to use when you need it.
Quirte simply an insulating cylinder jacket wraps the tank in a thick layer of insulation which keeps the heat in the tank and therefore makes sure the water stays hotter for longer and therefore you’re not going to need to spend as much heating it up.
It saves energy and money!
What are cylinder jackets made from?
A standard cylinder jacket is made from a resilient form of low density mineral wool which is packed into 80mm thick sections which are enclosed in (typically red) PVC / polythene. The reason it is in sections is to make it easier to install.
Always make sure that whichever jacket you buy conforms to BSS standards.
How thick should a cylinder jacket be?
Modern tanks generally have insulation already installed at the factory – the current standard for this is 50mm of factory foam.
The insulation requirements have increased substantially over recent years – the current standard is now a minimum 80mm of loose jacket insulation. Adding an additional layer of insulation could save a significant amount of money if your tank is not up to these standards.
My tank is already insulated - do I need more?
Check the thickness – you should be looking for AT LEAST 80mm of insulation. If your current jacket is less than this then replace it or top it up.
The thicker the iinsulation the more you’ll save so even if yo already have 80mm if you have the space to go thicker then do so – it will still prove cost effective.
If you have a newer modern tank it is likely that this will already have had insulation already at the factor. For new tanks the current regulations stipulate a minimum of 50mm of factory foam os If you have a brand new cylinder this is usually enough.
How much does a cylinder jacket cost?
It depends on the size of the tank itself and the thickness of the insulation.
If you’re looking at a standard size tank and a standard 80mm thick jacket you’ll be looking at an outlay of somewhere between just £20 and £40. Theyre very easy to buy too – you’ll find them in the plumbing section of all main DIY stores, plumbing merchnts and even the big online retailers.
Can I install it myself?
Absolutely – just make sure you measure the cylinder to buy the correct size and then simply follow the manufactureres instructions and you should have the job done in around 20 minutes.
Will it really save me money?
A resounding YES – if you have no insulation around your tank at all you could save about £200 per year (depending on teh type of property you have).
But that’s not all – if you already have a cylinder jacket it may be old and thin so a simple top up from an old 25mm jacket to a new 80mm one will save you about £50 a year or doubling up from 80mm to 160mm will save around £15 a year. That means, in most cases you’re going to save multiples of the initial outlay in year one … I think “no-brainer” is teh correct term!
Are there any grants?
As we’ve said, the cost is very low but, even so, if you live in Northern Ireland it’s classed as a Priority 1 measure under the Affordable Warmth Scheme which means that you may be eligible for a grant to cover the cost of a cylinder jacket.