Oct 19 2007
The recent discovery of two functioning vintage water heaters bears witness to one modern manufacturer's long-held commitment to product reliability, even as disposable household appliances dominate the marketplace. Rheem Water Heating gives consumers a residential water heating choice that is not only long-lasting, but also energy-efficient.
"The old adage, 'They just don't make 'em like they used to,' doesn't hold up when you look at our track record," says Laura Butler, Rheem communications manager.
The company reacquired the vintage water heaters -- made in 1904 and 1913, respectively, by Ruud Manufacturing Company -- from alert consumers. The award-winning inventor Edwin Ruud pioneered heated water technology in Pennsylvania in 1889. Rheem purchased Ruud's company in 1959.
Rich Bellitto of Bayview, Ohio, discovered the 1904 Ruud water heater at a plumbing and heating business and offered up his treasure to Rheem. Bellitto, who has been uncovering unusual antiques for more than 40 years, took one look and knew he hit the jackpot. "When I saw this water heater, my heart jumped," he says. "I thought, 'This is a great, great time capsule.' And when I saw the cartouche on the front and all the fancy embossments, I knew it was turn-of-the-century. It's not a complicated piece, and it's so efficient. If you were to hook it up right now, it would work."
Bellitto's discovery is the oldest water heater acquired by Rheem. "We are thrilled to have this wonderful piece of history here at our headquarters," Butler says. "It will hold a place of honor."
In neighboring Pittsburgh, Pa., Jack and Cynthia Vogel are hard at work gutting and renovating an estate carriage house from the early 1900s. When the Vogels bought the property, they discovered a 1913 Ruud water heater still operating in the basement. The Vogels offered the heater to Rheem, and the couple plans to install a new Rheem tankless water heating system in their home next spring, when the renovation is complete.
The Rheem unit that the Vogels will install in their home shares an important characteristic with the 1913 Ruud unit they discovered, as well as the 1904 model that Rich Bellitto found: All are tankless water heaters.
Like their modern counterparts, those earlier models did not store hot water for later use, but heated it "on demand," as it moved through the unit, sending the water immediately to a bathtub or sink. The 1904 model incorporates 15 burners to quickly boost the temperature of the water to the required level.
During the first half of the 20th century, manufacturers began making residential water heaters with built-in storage. These units were designed to fire up periodically to overcome heat loss and to maintain a preset temperature in anticipation of need, a technology that continues to account for the vast majority of units in North America today.
But over the past decade on-demand tankless water heating technology has made a strong comeback, countering the impact of rising energy costs.
Modern Rheem tankless units are more compact than both their forebears and tank-type heaters -- about the size of a medicine cabinet. The new units carry far more powerful burners, capable of raising water temperature from 40°F to 140°F in an instant, while minimizing carbon emissions. They also are equipped with more sophisticated electronic controls that maintain consistent output temperatures and make them eligible for federal energy tax credits of up to $300.
Rheem tankless water heaters still offer customers the old-fashioned reliability that is Edwin Ruud's legacy of excellence, but with modern efficiency and convenience. Innovative tankless technology makes it possible to enjoy on-demand, continuous hot water -- and continuous savings -- for many years to come.