Abstract: A water heater of the instantaneous gas type without a permanent pilot light includes: a small turbo-alternator through which the water drawn off passes; an arrangement for using the current from the turbo-alternator for lighting a main pilot light; a valve arrangement for using the flow of water drawn off to admit the gas to the main pilot light and a differential pneumatic valve for controlling the intake of gas to the burner. This differential pneumatic valve is itself actuated by a venting, at the level of an auxiliary pilot light, controlled by an electrovalve fed with the current i. The electrovalve is energized by the positive half waves of the current, chosen so that the cycles of its openings and closings can follow one another at a high rate and the durations of its openings are regulated by modifying the amplitude of the half waves by resistance responsive to the temperature of the drawn off water.