American Water Heater Co. announced its answer to the industry problem of home fires from flammable
vapors with the release of the Flame GuardT Safety System at this year's National Hardware Show in
Chicago.
With more than 60 million homes using gas-fired water heaters, American felt a need to address the
problem of water heater-induced home fires with safer water heaters. According to the Johnson City,
Tenn.-based company, more than 75 percent of vapor fires result from improper storage of flammable liquids
- such as gasoline, paint thinners or solvents - which can be ignited by a gas water heater's burner or pilot.
The Flame Guard Safety System is the first of its kind to reduce the risk of these type of fires using a patented
combustion chamber and flame trap.