EP9: Reinventing the way we heat and use water - Heatworks
FUN FACT
Heatworks has over 50 patents on their technology!
FOUNDERS
Jerry Callahan
FLAGSHIP PRODUCT
The Tetra Countertop Dishwasher
TOTAL FUNDING
$10.3M
LAUNCHED
2006
HQ
Mount Pleasant, SC
The Problem
For the last 100 years, electric water heaters have been designed with one fundamental flaw: they all use metal heating elements to heat the water. To heat a tank full of water, the relatively small heating element must get very hot. In some cases, up to 800° F. This causes rust and limescale to form on the surface of the element. Over time, “hot spots” develop, and the elements fail.
The Solution
Their products have no heating elements. Instead, they use their patented “Ohmic Array Technology” to leverage the natural conductivity of water and electricity. What does this mean? Hot water is purer. Endless. Heated instantly within 1° F of the setpoint. And remains 99% energy efficient.
For example, after installing Heatworks’ MODEL 3 Water Heater, homeowners could reduce the overall cost of heating their family’s water by about 40%. For the average American family, that’s $240 back each year.
Episode Brief
Jerry Callahan, Founder and CEO of Heatworks, joins Peter on this week’s episode to discuss:
The problems with conventional water heating methods
Their patented “ohmic array technology” and how this changes the way we heat and use water
Their current product line, incl. a countertop dishwasher (TIME Magazine’s 2018 Best Invention)
Building the shower of the future
What's next and the moonshot
Lightning Round:
What are the habits you credit your success to?
If you weren’t working on Heatworks, what problem area would you be exploring?
Who has had the greatest impact on your learning and why?
Credits
HOST
Peter Levin
PRODUCTION
Dan Mahoney
MUSIC
Eddie Knuckles