Baptistry heater

A baptistry heater is water heating device used in baptistry pools by various religions throughout the world. Three main types of heaters are immersion, circulation and gas/LP. A baptistry heater can range from 3 kW to 12 kW of power and can heat water from 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 °C) to 118 °F (48 °C). Modern baptistry heaters start in 1904 by a businessman in Orange, Texas who was getting baptized at his local church. The water was very cold. He decided that he could use electricity to heat the baptistry in order to make it warmer. W. E. McCorquodale thought that he could add to his plumbing business by selling heaters to churches. In 1927, Mr. McCorquodale invented and was granted the patent on the first thermostatically controlled instantaneous gas water heater. The unit which was filled with heavy copper coils was top of the line technology in its day.

Cold water entered the unit at the bottom of the coil system, which was forced by the water pressure through the coil. When the water reached the top of the unit, it was able to provide almost instant hot water into the baptistry tank.

Over the years baptisteries have changed mainly form cement and steel to fiberglass. During this transition the two companies that produced baptistry heater had to make some adjustments to the units. These adjustments make heater water much safer & faster than in early years.