History
In the 1870s, Englishmen, Maughan invented the first instant water heater. Small is known about Maughan’s invention, but, his invention influenced the designs of Edwin Ruud.
Edwin Ruud, a Norwegian mechanical engineer was the inventor of the automatic storage water heater in 1889. Ruud emigrated to Pittsburgh where he pioneered the early development of both residential and commercial water heaters. He founded the Ruud Manufacturing Company.
The Water Heater is still sometimes referred to as a geyser in the UK. Other terms include: an electric water boiler, electric dispensing pot, or electric water urn.
There are various kinds of water heaters. The most common water heaters are the storage water heaters. Instantaneous (tankless) water heaters are newer on the market, and newer still, solar water heaters.
Storage Tank Water Heaters
This is typically the kind of water heater you saw growing up, the huge white tank often beside the furnace. Tank type water heaters come in different varieties – gas, oil & electric. This refers to the type of burner used to heat the water. Energy efficiencies between the different types of burners on the tank water heaters can differ greatly. In this tank, cold water is used to fill the tank, and an element, usually near the top & bottom inside the tank is used to heat it. In between the inside tank and the outer shell is often insulation to help keep the water hot, without the elements having to do all of the work.
Instantaneous Water Heaters, also called Tankless Water Heaters are just that. They do not have a tank, and therefore are thought to be more energy efficient. Sometimes they are called an in-line water heater, as it only heats the water it needs as it passes through, and therefore energy is not wasted by heating extra water all day that is not in use.
Other terms for Tankless Water Heaters is Combination Water Heaters, Combi Boilers, Continuous Flow Water Heaters, Inline Water Heaters, Flash Water Heaters, On-Demand Water Heaters or Instant-On Water heaters.
These particular Water Heaters are rapidly gaining in popularity and will soon become the standard. Often, one main Tankless Water Heater will be installed near the furnace, and supplemental smaller Tankless Water Heaters will be situated in tactical spots, such as a far reaching bathrooms, etc to be located right where the water is being used. This strategy saves water as well as energy, thereby making this option one of the most efficient, as well as saving on space.
Solar Water Heaters
If you’re fortunate enough to live someplace sunny most of the year around, a solar powered water heater may be an option for you. Solar collectors are typically installed on the exterior of the building on the roof or nearby. If insufficient sunlight or at night, an automatic sensor turns off and keeps the remaining water from cooling.
For colder climates, you’re not out of luck. The evacuated tube collector solar powered water heater is an alternate type of solar water heater, smaller and deemed more efficient, also roof mounted, is said to work very well in cold climates.
Right to its name, the evacuated tube collector solar powered water heater has a row of glass tubes which contain heat conducting rods. Inside the heating rods is antifreeze, which is in a circulating loop. The heat is captured and transferred into a heat exchanger. The result is brilliant, with very low heat loss due to the fact that once the inside coating has absorbed solar radiation, the air has been evacuated from the glass tubes to make a vacuum.
Incoming search terms:
- edwin ruud history
- water heater history
- history of gas water heaters
- history of hot water heaters
- history of tankless water heaters
- tankless water heater history
- history water heaters
- water heaters history
- the history of water heaters
- history on hot water heater electric
Comments on this entry are closed.