Water heating Facts for Kids

Three propane water heaters.

Water heating is a way of using energy to make water hotter than it was before. We use hot water every day for many things at home, like cooking, cleaning, taking showers, and warming our houses. In factories, hot water and even steam (very hot water vapor) are used for many different jobs.

The most common ways to heat water involve burning fuels. These fuels can be natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), fuel oil, or sometimes solid fuels like coal or firewood. We can also use electricity to heat water. This electricity might come from burning the fuels mentioned above, or from nuclear power, or from renewable energy sources like wind or solar power.

Other ways to heat water include using solar power, heat pumps, or even heat from deep inside the Earth, called geothermal power. These methods are often used along with gas, oil, or electricity to make sure there's always enough hot water.

Solar water heaters
Geothermal heating
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Solar water heaters

Solar heater panels with a built-in storage tank on a house in Réunion.

Solar water heaters use the sun's energy to warm water. The special panels that collect sunlight are usually placed outside a house, often on the roof. Most of these systems work by directly heating the water as it flows through the flat panels. The warm water then goes into a storage tank, ready to be used.

Geothermal heating

In some places, like Iceland and New Zealand, there is a lot of heat coming from inside the Earth. This is called geothermal power. In these areas, people can use this natural heat to warm their water instead of burning fuels. It's a very natural and efficient way to get hot water!