Origins of the Hot Water Heater

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Origins of the Hot Water Heater

Nearly every building in Canada today has a hot water heater of some type installed. The benefits of having hot water available on demand are plentiful. From personal hygiene to cooking and cleaning, many of us today would have difficulty imagining life without hot water.

Hot water on demand, though, is a relatively new innovation, only gaining mainstream popularity in the early 1900s. The first hot water heater is purported to have been invented by an English painter by the name of Benjamin Waddy Maughan in 1868. His ‘geyser’ device heated cold water that was piped into it, then pushed that hot water out into a sink or tub. Hot water heaters are occasionally still referred to as ‘geysers’ in parts of the UK.

Maughan’s geyser influenced a Norwegian engineer named Edwin Ruud. After emigrating to the United States, Ruud developed an ‘automatic water heater’ around 1889 that would later become popularized and eventually common in homes throughout Canada and the US. Ruud’s tank-style heaters bear a strong resemblance to the hot water tanks that are still commonly in use today.

Because they are such a big part of our lives, at the Gentlemen Plumbers Calgary, we recognize the importance of clean, safe, and well-working hot water heaters. From installation to maintenance and repairs, our experts are trained and ready to assist you.