Water Heater Brochure

A. O. Smith tankless products are built with commercial-grade materials to
ensure durability and reliability.
Commercial-Grade Copper Alloy
Our commercial-grade copper is a heat-resistant copper alloy, with additive elements that give it eight times the
tensile strength of regular copper. Even at high temperatures, our commercial-grade copper maintains a fine grain
and high strength. Commercial-grade copper provides resistance to the damaging effects of erosion that can cause
heat exchangers to leak.
316L Stainless Steel
A. O. Smith condensing models utilize 316L stainless steel in the secondary heat exchanger. Stainless steel
performs well in extreme environments including heat, acidic condensation and chloride.
Drum Thickness
During every ignition cycle, thermal expansion causes all heat exchangers to undergo heat stress. After the
thousands of ON/OFF cycles typically seen in a commercial application, this heat stress can prove damaging. This
is why the heat exchangers in our commercial and light commercial products utilize drums that are 25% thicker,
ensuring the longevity of our products. A thicker drum creates less strain on the heat exchanger.
water
water
0.016" (0.4mm)
A thicker drum creates less strain on the heat exchanger.
0.020" (0.5mm)
drum coil
drum coil
water
water
drum coil
drum coil
drum
drum
25% Thicker
A thicker drum creates less
strain on the heat exchanger
A thinner drum strains more
under heat stress
water
water
0.016" (0.4mm)
A thicker drum creates less strain on the heat exchanger.
0.020" (0.5mm)
drum coil
drum coil
water
water
drum coil
drum coil
drum
drum
25% Thicker
Secondary HX-Stainless Steel 316L
Primary HX
Commerical-Grade
Copper
Drum
Coil
Flow Adjustment
Valve
Bypass Valve
Flow
Sensor
Cold Water
Inlet
Hot Water Outlet
DURABILITY
9