Technology

Brandon Hayes/NIST
A side-by-side comparison of a typical water heater system and the new system invented at NIST. A heat exchanger allows the water tank to be safely heated to a higher temperature, killing certain bacteria such as Legionella.
New water heater concept uses high-temperature storage and an integrated heat exchanger to kill Legionella bacteria while delivering water at safe fixture temperatures.
July 22, 2026