Abstract: Fluid heating arrangements and methods are provided wherein liquid is caused to flow through a fluid permeable electrical resistance heater body. Prior to the heater body, the liquid passes through a fluid permeable flow control member which offers a uniform resistance to the entire flow of the liquid. Static pressure head of the fluid varies over the entry surface of the flow control member, and the permeability of the combination of the heater body and the flow control member are such as to cause a pressure drop in the fluid greater than the variations in static pressure head of the fluid at the entry surface of the flow control member. This promotes a uniform flow of the fluid through the heater body even in the presence of significant differences in static pressure head over the fluid entry surface of the flow control member.