What Type of Water Heaters Had a Copper Liner in Them?

Pools

• Pool heaters have one major problem. They use chlorine or a similar type of chemical to keep water clean that can have highly corrosive effects on metal. The pool water must flow through the water heater in order to warm up before cycling back around, but no one wants to replace a heater every few years because of corrosion problems. For this reason, pools often use copper linings and copper or plastic pipes to help their systems last longer.

Solar Heaters

• Solar heaters are whole-house systems designed to heat water using sunlight as energy, then pass this water down to a supplement system designed to save the main heater energy. Because the solar tank, piping and panels are located out in the elements where rain, sun and air can wear them down, copper lining is again a common choice for metal tanks and other components.

Exchangers

• Copper has other benefits besides it resistance to corrosion and bacteria growth. It can also transfer heat effectively while still maintaining high strength. As a result, copper heat exchangers are used in gas-fired water heaters to move thermal energy from the burning gas to the water itself. The exchangers are made from copper plating, often with aluminum fin attachments. These copper exchangers are also used in water-to-air heat exchangers.

Other Water Heaters

• Copper linings may also be applied to a number of generic water heater tanks, especially those used in industrial applications. This helps prevent corrosion, and is an alternative to glass, cement and other materials. This copper lining should be fully bonded to the entire inside surface of the tank. For a proper liner, the copper plating should be at least 0.005 inches thick.