Life without hot water is almost impossible to imagine. Yet, for most of human history, it was the norm rather than the exception.
Let’s explore the long and fascinating history of water heating:
THE EARLY YEARS
For most of history, people heated water using an external source. It was boiled over a fire or obtained from geothermal sources like hot springs. Unsurprisingly, the first recorded water boiler was in Rome. An early boiler was discovered from the excavations at Pompeii. The device was seated on a metal tripod where the fire could heat the water from underneath as it ran into a bath.
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Despite early innovations, water heating methods mostly remained unchanged for hundreds of years until the Industrial Revolution. The British painter Benjamin Waddy Maughan invented an instant water heater in 1868. Patented as the “gas geyser,” the heater ran on natural gas but lacked the flue necessary to vent the dangerous vapors. As a result, the idea never caught on.
His efforts weren’t in vain, though. Maughan inspired Norwegian immigrant Edwin Ruud to patent his water heater in the U.S. in 1889. The first commercially viable water heater was made of cast iron and properly vented the natural gases it ran on. It heated the water with a copper heat exchanger, and the device fired up whenever the faucet was opened, thanks to an actuator valve attached to the burners (another invention of Ruud’s).
THE MODERN MACHINES
Ruud’s heater remained the industry standard until the 1900s when new companies made further innovations. Homeowners were initially reluctant to use water heating for perceived safety issues, but this would change with the turn of the century.
The Stiebel-Eltron company added another major innovation to the industry with its electric tankless heater in 1929. It warmed water through coil immersion. In 1980, Amtrol released an indirect-fired heater that relied on a building’s boiler heat rather than any power source.
Today, countless makes and models of water heaters are on the market. Bigger houses and buildings can use storage-type water heaters, while smaller places often opt for tankless solutions. Centralized water heaters can even serve apartment blocks and offices.
Water heaters now prioritize water conservation and power efficiency for the modern home. Smart water heaters enable owners to control their water and electricity usage with smartphone apps.
FROM ROME TO HOME
With such a long history and many heaters, homeowners may feel overwhelmed about installing one. It’s always best to seek the advice and expertise of a professional water heater installer to get the right unit installed properly.
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.