Abstract: A water heater including a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent the water heater, a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, a flue having an upper portion and a lower portion operatively connected to the combustion chamber and extending through at least a portion of the water container, and a catalytic converter located in the upper portion of the flue. The water heater may also reduce NOx and CO emissions generated by a water heater having a radiant burner including activating the burner in response to the temperature of water in the water heater as needed, and substantially removing accumulated foreign matter on the burner by periodically activating the burner irrespective of the water temperature for a selected amount of time.

Abstract: A water heater including a water reservoir container having a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet, a combustion chamber adjacent the water container, a burner associated with the container; a temperature probe associated with the container that detects a water temperature in an upper portion of the container, and a controller that activates the burner, the controller establishing an initial water temperature set point, comparing detected water temperature with the set point when the burner is activated, reducing the set point by a first selected amount when the water temperature decreases by less than a selected amount while the burner is activated or increasing the set point by a second selected amount when the water decreases by a selected amount of more while the burner is activated.

Abstract: A low NOx water heater including a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent the water container; and a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the burner comprising a plenum chamber having a combustion surface and a device to detect the presence of the collection of lint, dirt and/or oil.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber adjacent the water container; a burner associated with the combustion chamber; a blower assembly located to receive combustion products generated by the burner; an intake conduit sealingly connected to the combustion chamber and having a combustion air intake opening located adjacent an upper portion of the water heater; and a dilution air conduit sealingly connected to the blower assembly and having a dilution air intake opening located adjacent a lower portion of the water heater.

Abstract: An electric water heater including a water container; an element associated with the water container to heat water in the water container; a cold water inlet associated with the water container; a hot water outlet associated with the water container; and a dip tube connected to the hot water outlet, the dip tube having at least one opening proximate the hot water outlet and at least one opening positioned proximate to or below the element.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber adjacent the water container; a burner associated with the combustion chamber; a blower assembly located to receive combustion products generated by the burner; an intake conduit sealingly connected to the combustion chamber and having a combustion air intake opening located adjacent an upper portion of the water heater; and a dilution air conduit sealingly connected to the blower assembly and having a dilution air intake opening located adjacent a lower portion of the water heater.

Abstract: A low NOx water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber adjacent the water container; and a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the burner comprising a plenum chamber having a combustion surface and a device to detect the presence of the collection of lint, dirt and/or oil.

Abstract: An air intake filter for a water heater including a frame structure including a screen, a connector and a receiver positioned to removably engage the connector to position the frame structure at or around an exterior circumferential portion of a water heater.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber adjacent the water container; a burner associated with the combustion chamber; a blower assembly located to receive combustion products generated by the burner; an intake conduit sealingly connected to the combustion chamber and having a combustion air intake opening located adjacent an upper portion of the water heater; and a dilution air conduit sealingly connected to the blower assembly and having a dilution air intake opening located adjacent a lower portion of the water heater.