The invention of water heaters is a major technological breakthrough that has made quick and convenient access to hot water possible. Modern households cannot imagine a day without a functioning water heater. The present water heaters use a reliable energy source to heat water for various purposes like cleaning, cooking, bathing, and washing clothes and dishes. Before the water heater invention, people used natural sources like hot springs and fire to heat water for different uses, which was time-consuming and required significant hard work.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF WATER HEATING
Romans, in 298-306 AD, utilized natural hot water springs to create massive baths, which laid the foundation for subsequent innovations. The lack of hot water springs in many locations led people to heat water in pots over an open fire, which was time-consuming and used a lot of wood.
THE FIRST WATER HEATER
After many centuries, in 1868, an Englishman and a painter by trade, Benjamin Waddy Maughan, introduced and patented the ‘gas geyser,’ the first instantaneous water heater. It used natural gas for heating water as it flowed into the bathtub. However, this method to heat water proved unsuitable and dangerous for household purposes, as it lacked proper ventilation to dispel gas vapors. Due to his noble attempts, Maughan often gets the credit for inventing water heaters.
NATURAL GAS WATER HEATER INVENTION
In 1889, Edwin Rudd’s groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern heaters. Inspired by Maughan’s design, the Norwegian mechanical engineer and an immigrant to the United States patented the first natural gas water heater with a storage tank with better safety features that were missing in Maughan’s water heater. Rudd’s water heater was a cast-iron appliance featuring a copper heat exchanger.
Edwin Rudd founded the Rudd Manufacturing Company in 1897. The company was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and made domestic and commercial water heaters. Rudd continuously improved the subsequent water heaters, especially concerning the safety features. By 1940, he added 13 additional patents to his invention. Proper venting and residential plumbing codes led to a substantial increase in residential water heaters.
The Rudd Manufacturing Company is the oldest American water heater company, and its design continues to act as the foundation of residential and commercial water heaters found throughout America.
TANKLESS WATER HEATERS
In 1929, Stiebel-Elton patented the coil immersion heater that heated water instantaneously, eliminating the need for a tank to hold heated water. While tankless water heaters entered the market in the 1970s, early models existed from the late 1920s but were not as good as the latest models. The recirculation system entry in the 1990s made tankless water heaters more efficient than before.
EMBRACE PRESENT-DAY WATER HEATERS
Homeowners now have access to different styles and brands of water heaters. Modern water heaters are highly efficient and use little energy to produce more hot water than traditional heaters. They are of superior quality and more compact. Exciting innovations are expected in water heating technology, with water heaters gradually becoming more efficient and affordable.
Water Heater Pros provides water heater installation and replacement services for Las Vegas and surrounding area residents and businesses. Our expert technicians install both traditional and tankless water heaters for homes and other buildings with gas or electric service. We offer the highest quality installers for efficient, versatile water heaters such as Rheem. Ruud, high-efficiency tankless Navien units, and more. Ask about our installation specials.