May 22, 2006—A new 50-gallon hot water heater with 90 percent thermal efficiency has been developed by A.O. Smith Water Products Company in a three-year collaboration with the Department of Energy (DOE) and TIAX LLC, an engineering product development firm.
To achieve the high efficiency with only a modest cost premium, the new hot water heater employs a glass-lined helical-coil heating element made from carbon steel, rather than stainless steel. The new “Vertex” water heater combines high-energy input with efficient combustion to deliver performance similar to a 75-gallon tank.
The high rate of energy production also allows the tank to maintain a temperature rise of 45 degrees Fahrenheit with a flow rate of three gallons per minute, which means that under most conditions, the water heater will endlessly provide hot water for a shower with a low-flow showerhead.
For more information, visit A.O. Smith.
