Abstract: A high efficiency water heater comprising a generally cone shaped tank; an surrounding and spaced from the tank defining a passageway for flue gases between an inner surface of the enclosure and the outer surface of the tank, said enclosure having an outlet for flue gases; a burner communicating with the interior of said enclosure, and means for providing combustion air to said burner. The preferred embodiment includes baffle means attached to the outer surface of the tank for increasing heat transfer. One embodiment has a conduit passing vertically through the tank, and wherein the burner is disposed in an upper region and communicating with the conduit, and includes a fan for directing flue gases downward through the conduit and subsequently into and through said passageway between the inner surface of the enclosure and the outer surface of the tank.

Abstract: A high efficiency water heater comprising a generally cone shaped tank; an surrounding and spaced from the tank defining a passageway for flue gases between an inner surface of the enclosure and the outer surface of the tank, said enclosure having an outlet for flue gases; a burner communicating with the interior of said enclosure, and means for providing combustion air to said burner. The preferred embodiment includes baffle means attached to the outer surface of the tank for increasing heat transfer. One embodiment has a conduit passing vertically through the tank, and wherein the burner is disposed in an upper region and communicating with the conduit, and includes a fan for directing flue gases downward through the conduit and subsequently into and through said passageway between the inner surface of the enclosure and the outer surface of the tank.