Water heaters were once considered the pinnacle of luxury. Today, they are commonplace in millions upon millions of homes all over the globe.
Today, hot water is a fundamental requirement for modern living. However, this was not always the case. Most people of history had to live without hot water unless they could afford a Roman bath or a hot spring.
We can enjoy hot water today, without worrying about it because of the hard work of many inventors throughout history.
Here are some fascinating facts about water heating.
- Hot water was invented by the Romans, who were among the first to create it.
Ancient Romans were the first to invent a system for heating water. For their residents to relax and bathe, most Roman cities and towns had special buildings called Roman Baths.
These buildings could heat water by burning wood or solid fuel. Water was circulated throughout the building through a special architectural feature called a hypocaust.
- An English painter patented one of the first water heaters.
In the late 1860s, an English painter named Benjamin Waddy Maughan applied for a patent to create the first domestic water heater in the world. This device could heat water by burning natural gas.
This was the first time that natural gas was suggested as a fuel source instead of solid fuels like coal or wood.
This water heater was unsafe for domestic use because it did not have a flue that could vent combustion gases and was never successful.
- Waddy Maughan’s invention was used by another inventor in the late 1890s.
A second inventor, based on Benjamin Waddy Maughan’s pioneering work, improved his design to make the modern water heater a reality. Edwin Ruud was his name. He added safety features such as a flue to make it even more advanced.
With his automatic water heater, Ruud, a Norwegian mechanical engineer would leave a legacy in the field. He went on to create a water heating company and air conditioning business that is still exists today, Ruud.
His invention would revolutionize millions of lives around the United States and the world.
- In the 1890s, the English also invented their own water heater.
A company called Ewart & Son designed their own gas-fired hot water heater in 1895. Their water heater, the ” Royal Geyser”, was intended to heat water for filling a bathtub.
The water heater could also mix hot and chilled water to ensure the water was at the right temperature. The heater could be temperamental and cause problems if the water supply was shut off before the pilot light was lit.
- The “Golden Age” for water heaters was the early 1900s
In the early 1900s, there was a huge boom in the creation and development of water heaters. During this time, many firms were dedicated to designing and manufacturing them.
More than 150 businesses were established around this time. Only a few of these companies exist today in the United States.
Technology would continue to improve and lead us toward modern water heaters.
- In the 1920s, one of the earliest electric water heaters was invented.
Some hot water companies were able to create instantaneous, tankless hot water generators in the 1920s. Stiebel Eltron was one of the most prominent players in this area. He was able to develop an electrical tankless heater, also known as a coil immersion heater.
This breakthrough would change the future of water heating technology. This would allow the company to remain a leader in the industry, refining its technology through the years.
The company is still a world leader in hot water and renewable energy.
- The next major development in water heating was solar water heating
Solar water heaters were developed by the Romans more than 2000 years ago. They were simple in design, but they were used to reduce fuel consumption in some Roman bathtubs.
Early solar heaters were known as batch heaters. They are now commonly called internal collectors and storage units (ICS). They were efficient at heating water, but they lost heat overnight.
These systems were further improved when Thermosyphon was invented. These systems, which consist of a tank that is placed over a solar collector, became extremely popular all around the globe.
These systems were susceptible to deterioration over time and eventually, leaks could cause serious damage. Many early solar systems were unable to compete with gas-fired heaters, and technology started to deteriorate.
But solar heating would see a revival at the beginning of the 21st Century as both companies and individuals began to install modern solar PV water heating systems to reduce their carbon footprints as well as to become more energy sufficient.
Solar water heating systems are increasingly common in offices and homes today. Call our experts today to learn more.
