Abstract: A water heater having a non-metallic tank and a surface mounted thermostat is provided with a thermostat mounting which reliably sensing water temperature. The thermostat mounting includes a large area plate in contact with the tank over a large area and fixed to the tank reinforcing fiberglass rovings.

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 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.