Abstract: A fuel fired, high capacity, high efficiency water heater uses a cylindrical plastic tank. The strength of the plastic tank is maintained by keeping the side wall imperforate and providing all access to the interior through metallic top and bottom plates.

Abstract: A condensate trap in the exhaust gas conduit of a forced draft water and space heater comprises a housing providing a chamber open at its upper end to the exhaust conduit and having a condensate outlet below the inlet and controlled by a float valve in the chamber.

Abstract: A forced draft gas burning water and/or space heater having a screen type vertically extending tubular burner provided with a deflector plate supported transversely within the burner tube for free vertical sliding movement therein on a vertical extending guide rod mounted in the burner tube. At the outset of each heating cycle of the heater, the pressurized combustible gas/air mixture initially forced upwardly into the open lower end of the burner tube pushes the deflector plate upwardly therein along the guide rod and is deflected thereby laterally outward through the apertured screen wall of the burner tube into the bottom region of the combustion chamber of the heater to cause immediate ignition of the initial combustible gas/air mixture by the igniter means located within the combustion chamber and eliminate any sputtering ignition effect.

Abstract: A combined air and water temperature conditioning system provides for the heating of potable water and for the heating and cooling of indoor room air in a compact arrangement of components. A domestic type gas water heater having a driven draft direct vent system accepts a modular air handler on its top. The air handler comprises a heating coil within a closed loop water system and a pump circulating hot water between the water heater and the air handler coil. A blower in the air handler passes room air across the heating coil to an air outlet from an air inlet. An insertable second coil connected to a heat pump or air conditioner is optionally provided for heating or cooling air being propelled between the air inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A direct venting system for an indoor domestic type water heater vents the combustion chamber of the water heater directly with the outdoor atmosphere by means of natural convection both to supply incoming combustion air and to expel flue gases. A conduit assembly extends from an indoor end associated with the water heater to an outdoor end in communication with the outdoor atmosphere, and provides continuous combustion air inlet and flue gas outlet plenums to isolate the combustion chamber of the water heater from the indoor room air.

Abstract: A forced draft direct vent system is provided for an indoor domestic type gas water heater having an atmospheric burner. The forced draft system permits adaptation of the water heater as a combined water heater and space heater in a compact continuous upright arrangement of components.

Abstract: A water heater having the inner door that closes the inner access opening leading into the combustion chamber formed as a component part of a unitary manifold assembly which also includes the main burner with its manifold gas supply tube, the pilot burner with its gas supply tube, and the pilot burner control thermocouple with its support tube. The inner door thus may not be removed for servicing of the water heater unless the complete manifold assembly is removed from the inner access opening, in which case the water heater is then rendered inoperative and incapable of main burner ignition to produce burner flames which could otherwise spill-out through an uncovered inner access opening left open by an unreplaced inner door. The inner door component of the manifold assembly has a pilot burner lighting port which is normally closed off by a spring loaded door and which also enables observation of the pilot and main burner flames.

Abstract: A magnetic scale inhibiting device is easily installed in a water heater inlet dip tube without the need of an external housing. The device comprises a number of thin magnets held in aligned relationship within the dip tube by resilient spacers which engage the magnet and the dip tube.

Abstract: The water heater has a totally submerged combustion chamber disposed within the lower third portion of the tank. Top and side openings connect respectively to an upwardly extending flue pipe and an inlet side cylinder to provide an air and gas passage through the tank in heat exchange relationship with water. A gas burner is receivable in the combustion chamber and is operated by a thermostat to assure a continuous supply of hot water. The totally submerged combustion chamber itself is solely supported by the flue pipe and side inlet cylinder.

Abstract: The gas supplemented solar collector storage means includes a water tank having supply and return connections for circulating water from the tank to a solar collector and back to the tank. A combustion chamber having top and side openings is disposed within the upper half portion of the tank and connects respectively to an upwardly extending flue pipe and an inlet side cylinder to provide an air and gas passage through the upper half of the tank in heat exchange relationship with water. A gas burner is receivable in the combustion chamber and is operated by a thermostat to provide heat to the water only in the event that the solar heating of the water is insufficient to maintain the water above a minimum temperature.

Abstract: A housing structure with a single pivoted damper member is provided as a replacement for the draft hood associated respectively with the flue outlet and vent pipe inlet in a gas heater system. The normal flue outlet for the gas system connects to a first passage in the housing and the normal overhead vent inlet connects to a second passage in the housing above the first passage. First ends of the passages adjacent to their connections to the flue outlet and vent pipe inlet are closed off and second ends open out in a common plane. Communicating with the second ends is an ambient atmosphere opening so that under conditions where the second ends of the passages are open, proper exhausting of gases passing up through the flue to the vent takes place. The single damper itself is mounted to swing in a manner to close off both passages simultaneously when in a first position and also isolate these passages from the ambient atmosphere inlet. In this first position, heat is retained in the heater as well as the room.

Abstract: Conventional type metal legs for the underpan of a hot water tank are eliminated and shorter legs in the form of integral plastic bodies substituted. The plastic bodies forming the legs are provided with diametrically opposite side slots for receiving inner edges of openings formed in the underpan to enable locking of the plastic bodies at points of the pan to serve as a support therefor. The material of the legs is of high heat insulation and portions of the legs protruding through the pan actually engage the underside of a hot water tank to hold it in spaced insulated relationship with respect to the pan.