The Invention of the Water Heater
17th Feb 2022
The inventor of the modern day water heater is Edwin Ruud. Before the invention of the
commercial gas water heater there was no real way to control the temperature of heating
consistent amounts of water. Bath water for example was heated in a pot over a fire or over
the stove. This could mean boiling water and then combining with cold water and hoping to
maintain a tolerable temperature. This is likely why people used to bathe a lot less frequently.
Luckily, in the year 1889 Edwin Ruud designed the first automatic, storage-tank type gas water
heater.
It was a few years later in the year 1897 that Ruud patented his invention. However,
water heaters were not readily available until after the Industrial Revolution. In the year 1920
only 1% of homes had a water heater installed! State Water Heaters started selling them for
personal use in the year 1948. Many homes today still use this same form of water heater with
minimal upgrades or changes to the model developed in 1948! Before the evolution of the
commercial gas water heater the only way to naturally derive hot water was through the
occasional natural hot spring. However, this was not a regular occurrence or a controllable
temperature. Humans greatest desire with warm water became controlling a large amount at a
specific temperature.
In the 1970s the tankless water heater was invented and improved to the model that
you see today. If we can help you find the best commercial gas water heater for your business
we would be happy to help. We understand what an investment in the future success of your
business this is and want to make sure that we help you find something that will last for many
years to come.