Some Facts You May Not Know About Water Heaters

First Model

The idea of a water heater first emerged in London in 1868, when a painter figured out how to heat cold water by placing gas burners at the bottom of the water pipes. This inspired a Norwegian mechanical engineer, Edwin Ruud, to create the first tank-type water heater and bring the idea to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Exploding Water Heaters

The myth of the exploding hot water heater is rare, but true. While it’s possible for a water heater to explode, there are simple ways to prevent it. These include regulating the temperature and psi as well as checking for rust and smells of leaking gas.

Precautions

Caution must be taken around water heaters; human skin can suffer third-degree burns in less than fives seconds if it comes into contact with water that’s 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Other Names

North America: “tankless hot water heaters” or “on-demand hot water heaters” The U.K.: “multipoint geyers” Australia and New Zealand: “instantaneous hot water units” Argentina: “calfones”

Water Usage

On average, a person taking a shower will use 6-8 gallons of water, a person taking a bath will 15-20 gallons of water, a person doing a load of laundry will use 20-30 gallons of water, a person doing the dishes will use around 2 gallons of water per minute, and a dishwasher will use around 6-10 gallons per load.