As the cold weather sets in, the water in rooftop tanks becomes very cold early in the morning. Using such cold water for washing, rinsing, or laundry causes a chill. Constantly running water heaters increases electricity bills, and heating water with an immersion heater takes a long time. There is a simple and inexpensive folk method that allows you to keep the water in the tank warm without increasing electricity costs or using water heaters.
When the temperature drops at night and cold winds blow, the plastic tank loses heat, and the water cools down significantly. To avoid this, you can insulate the tank externally using styrofoam or burlap. A detailed method for implementing this clever folk trick is presented below.
Necessary Materials and Procedure
For insulation, you will need: 2-3 sheets of styrofoam (or old sacks from straw/mattresses), one large canvas or black polyethylene sheet, strong rope or reinforced tape, and an old thick blanket or sack to cover the tank lid.
To properly insulate the tank, wrap it externally with 2-3 layers of styrofoam or old sacks. Styrofoam serves as an excellent insulator, preventing contact between the tank and frosty air. Next, secure the styrofoam or sacks around the tank using reinforced tape, and then tie them around the perimeter 3-4 times with strong rope so that the structure does not come loose in strong winds.
A large piece of black polyethylene or canvas must be placed over the insulation. This will protect the styrofoam and burlap from getting wet due to rain or dew. Since most heat loss occurs through the lid, it should be covered with an old sack or fabric, and a small piece of styrofoam should be placed on top and secured.
Furthermore, water in pipes often freezes. Therefore, it is necessary to wrap the pipe connections leading from the tank in polyurethane insulating material or old sacks, securing them with tape. Thanks to this method, the water in the tank will not come into contact with frosty air during the night. In the morning, when the tap is opened, the user will receive normal and slightly warm water instead of icy water, making bathing comfortable.