National Steel Construction Company water heater age decoders, water heater manual sources.

In this article series we give details of how to de-code water heater age for all water heater brand. We also discuss the conditions, maintenance, and factors that affect how long a water heater can be expected to last.

National Steel Construction Co. Water Heaters

Shown here: the National Steel Construction Co. "automatic electric water heater" trademark shown above was registered in 1951 and expired in 1992.

The National Steel Construction Co. appeared in a 1918 listing of companies issued by the Washington secretary of state in it's eighteenth biennial report (p. 97) and again in 1927 (and probably in intervening years) so we know the company was in business as early as 1918 and as late as 1977 - probably later from the data tags on the water heater shown here.

[Click to enlarge any image]

The company was listed in the U.S. Federal Register (22 May 1945) citing a suspension order related to war production.

In 1945 the company was described as a manufacturer of electric water heaters, range boilers, hydropneumatic tanks and septic tanks.

Brand names trademarked by the National Steel Construction Company include:

• DOUBLEX Filed: October 21, 1949 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS Owned by: NATIONAL STEEL CONSTRUCTION CO. Serial Number: 71586646
• ELEKTRO-FLO Filed: April 23, 1965 Automatic Electric Hot Water Heaters And Tanks With Heaters Incorporated Adapted For Connection With External Piping Owned By: National Steel Construction Co. Serial Number: 72217200

• GLASTEEL Filed: May 5, 1967 Fluid Storage Tanks And Pressure Vessels-namely, Hydro-pneumatic Tanks And Water Storage Tanks Owned By: National Steel Construction Co. Serial Number: 72270730
• GLASTEEL Filed: March 24, 1975 Domestic Hot Water Tanks And Heaters Therefor Owned By: National Steel Construction Co.. Serial Number: 73047505
• NATIONAL Filed: April 11, 1950 Automatic Electric Water Heaters Owned By: National Steel Construction Co.. Serial Number: 71595548

One of the last mentions of National Steel Construction Co. in the news was on March 8-9, 1979 when in WATER HEATER MAKERS FINED [image file] the New York Times reported (Section D. p. 2) on a price-fixing charge levied against six major water heater manufacturers.

Among defendants named in that article was the A.O. Smith corporation of Milwaukee and Dirk Eisinga Jr., former president of the National Steel Construction Company now a part of A.O. Smith.

A current incarnation of a company using this same name is National Steel Construction Co., 201 S. Bennett St., Seattle, WA 98108 USA Tel: (206) 767-5151

National Steel Construction Co. Water Heater Age Decoder Key

National Steel Water Heater Age Before 1977

Above: a data tag from a 1973 National Steel Construction Co. natural gas fired water heater, courtesy of InspectApedia.com reader KatieB.

You'll notice that on some National Steel Construction Co. water heaters the words "Serial No." are replaced by "Service No." as we show on Katie B's 1973 water heater.

SERVICE NO: 5A73 where the year is 1973

Typically the year of manufacture is encoded in the last two digits of the National Steel Construction Co. water heater serial number, in these common formats:

nAYY where YY is the last two digits of the year of manufacture

Example:

5A73 giving a year of 1973

OR possibly on some older heaters,

YYnnnn where YY is the last two digits of manufacture

Example:

550677 giving a year of 1955

National Steel Water Heater Age After 1977

Shown below is the bottom an electric water heater produced by the National Steel Construction Co., along with a closer view (below) of the water heater's data tag - provided by reader "National Steel" in a Q&A posted 2019/11/10.

In 1977 A.O. Smith, a producer of water heaters (and auto and truck frames) purchased its California and Washington state water heater plants from the National Steel Construction Company.

National Steel Construction Co. was a producer of "automatic" electric water heaters and was located in Seattle, Washington.

[Click to enlarge any image]

National Steel Construction Co. (Water Heaters) was bought by or absorbed into A.O. Smith water heater co. in 1979

Typically the year of later National Steel Water Heaters made after 1977 or possibly after 1979 is encoded as the first two OR last two digits of the serial number.

Examples:

YYnnn where YY is the last two digits of year of manufacture

Example:

SER NO: 91550 where the year is 1991

Don't confuse this company with the National Steel Company (who after a kickback scandal in 2000 declared bankruptcy in 2002).

Below: a National Steel Construction Co. water heater that we think was produced more-recently than those shown above, courtesy of InspectApedia reader V.L.

Above: NSC water heater Serial No. 316649 - de-coding un-certain. This water heater data tag places the National Steel Construction Co. in Newark, California.

National Steel Construction Co. Patent Research Gives Dates & Locations

Notes on the patent numbers on this National Steel Construction Co. data tag tell us that while this heater is certainly newer than the patents, the design of its components dates back to 1929.

Above: Illustrations from Eisinga's 1937 patent for a water heater thermostatic switch.

• Apfel, Philip F. "Electric heater." U.S. Patent 1,699,323, issued January 15, 1929.
• Dirk, Eisinga. COMBINED FURNACE AND DOMESTIC HOT WATER HEATING APPARATUS [PDF] U.S. Patent 1,983,843, issued December 11, 1934. Assigned to Nat Steel Construction Co, National Steel Construction Co.
  
  Note: Google and other patent search engines have named these patents incorrectly. The inventor's name was Dirk Eisinga, from Glendale CA, not Eisinga, Dirk as is listed in the patent documents.
  
  Excerpts from the actual patent disclosure text give Esinga's [sic] name correctly in order an spelling: Dirk Eisinga
  
  Dirk Eisinga, Glendale, Calif., assignor to National Steel Construction Co., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application November 29, 1932, serial No. 644,760
  
  My invention relates to a combined furnace and domestic Water heating apparatus and the general object of my invention is to provide apparatus of this nature having means by which substantially all of the heat developed in the furnace may be directed through the water heater and applied to the heating of Water or by which substantially all of said heat may be directed through heat pick up chambers and applied to the heating of rooms with which the furnace is connected.
  
  A further object is to provide apparatus of this nature in which a water heater is directly connected with the combustion chamber of a furnace by a relatively large passageway through which substantially all of the heated products of combustion may be caused to paSS directly to the water heater without entering the heat pick up Spaces of the furnace.
  
• Dirk, Eisinga. THERMOSTATIC SWITCH [PDF] U.S. Patent 2,078,531, issued April 27, 1937. Application filed by NAT STEEL CONSTRUCTION CO.
  
  Dirk Eisinga, Glendale, Calif., assignor to National Steel Construction Co., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application November 4, 1934, Serial No. 752,964

• Dirk, Eisinga. THERMOSTATIC SWITCH AND SAFETY DEVCE [PDF] U.S. Patent 2,223,359, issued December 3, 1940. Assigned to National Steel Construction Co., Seattle Wash., a corporation of Washington.
  
  Excerpt: This invention relates to a combined thermo static switch and safety device for use in con nection with electric heating means for liquids and the present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the thermostatic switch disclosed in my prior patent, application Serial No. 214,933, filed June 21, 1938.
• Dirk, E., THERMOSTATIC SWITCH [PDF]. U.S. Patent 2,224,015. NAT STEEL CONSTRUCTION CO, 1940
  
  Note: this patent should be identified as by Dirk Esinga or if last name first, Esinga, Dirk - again repeating errors in the scans of the original US Patent Office documents.
  
  Excerpt: My invention relates to thermostatic switches and my present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the thermostatic switch dis closed in my Patent No. 2,078,531, issued April 27, 1937.
• Dirk, Eisinga. TANK [PDF] U.S. Patent 2,238,102, issued April 15, 1941. Assigned to National Steel Construction Co., - producer of National Steel Water Heaters
  Excerpts:
  
  This invention relates to a tank for the re ception of liquid under pressure and the primary object of this invention is to provide a tank hav ing an outer shell of strong material and an inner liquid tight lining of non-corrosive material.
  ...
  Because of the requirement for strength it has been common practice to use ferrous metal, as Sheet steel, in the construction of hot water storage tanks. This metal, even though it is well galvanized, is subject to corrosion or rusting, when used as a Water tank, with the result that an accumulation of rusted or Oxidized iron is found in the tank after a short period of use and the tank Will rust out and leak Within a few years.
  
  To overcome this objection these tanks have been made of special alloys such as stainless steel, monel metal and the like but this has proved to be expensive and there is a demand for a tank which will not oxidize and rust out and which is cheaper in cost of construction than a tank made of these alloys.
  
  It is an object of this invention to provide a tank which is internally non-corrosive, which has the strength of a steel tank, and Which is Substantially less expensive in cost of manufacture than a similar tank of the non-corrosive steel alloys now on the market.
  
  Another object of this invention is to provide a tank in which the outer shell of the tank is made of steel, and provides the strength element and the inner liner is made of copper Which is insert able into and removable from the outer shell and which is sufficiently soft and pliable to be ex panded by internal pressure against the outer Shell.
• Deringer, W. A., and F. W. Nelson. "A Field Investigation of Cathodic Protection In Glass Lined and Galvanized Water Heaters." Corrosion 8, no. 2 (1952): 57-64.
  
  Abstract
  
  Research started by A. O. Smith Corporation more than twenty years ago demonstrated that the effectiveness of cathodic protection was greately enhanced when coupled with a glass-fused-to-steel coating. This work resulted in the patent No. 2267361. Subsequent research and field experience with glass-lined domestic water heaters indicated this principle could, perhaps, be applied to advantage in this product. The glass-lining, being an inert, non-conductive coating would impose no current drain on the cathodic protection device used.
  
  Heretofore the glass-lining was the sole protector of water heater tanks against corrosion, and (as in any manufactured product) there was always the possibility the coating might not be perfect. It was thought a magnesium anode might serve as a pinch hitter to protect steel areas exposed if the glass coverage was imperfect.
  
  To evaluate cathodic protection in glass-lined water heaters a rather elaborate field test program was begun, involving installation of four glass-lined and two galvanized water heaters in each of twelve very carefully selected cities in the Eastern half of the United States. Construction of tanks used and the method of installing the magnesium anode is shown.
  
  Coatings on all tanks were damaged deliberately to make possible evaluation of the effectiveness of cathodic protection under abnormally adverse conditions. Plans included determination of current flow, anode life, effect of cathodic protection on the coating itself and the possibility of incorporating several cost saving features in glass-lined water heaters when magnesium anodes were used. After installation, these heaters were inspected at regular intervals both visually and electrically. After one year, half the heaters were removed and dissected.
  
  Results of this field test program showed how magnesium anodes behave both in galvanized and glass-lined water heaters under a variety of water and performance conditions. Anode life under these conditions was determined and anode life expectancy graphs are shown. Photographs of many of the bisected water heaters are also shown.

...

• Deringer, W. A., and F. W. Nelson. "A Field Investigation of Cathodic Protection In Glass Lined and Galvanized Water Heaters." Corrosion 8, no. 2 (1952): 57-64.
• Eisinga, Jr Dirk. SEALED WALL MOUNTING FUR LIQUID CONTAINER IMMERSION ELEMENT [PDF] .S. Patent 3,335,898, issued August 15, 1967.
  

Note that Dirk Eisinga, one of the patent authors above, was a president of the company when it was sold to AO Smith. Also noteworthy, Dirk Esinga's son Dirk Jr. continued in his father's business as seen in the 1967 Esinga patent disclosure listed above.

We found a record of National Steel Construction Co. patents dating from 1934 - 1972. The working company's last know address was 201 S Bennett St Seattle, WA 98108 USA. It is possible that A.O. Smith continues to manufacture water heaters under the AOS brand at what was originally an NSC location in California or Washington or both.

• Above: excerpted from "Jury Instructions in Criminal Antitrust Cases, 1976-1980: A Compilation of ...", American Bar Association. Section of Antitrust Law, cites Dirk Eisinga, Jr., defendant during part of the period covered by the indictment (up to August 1975), as President of National Steel Construction Company, a water heater manufacturer, with its principal office in Newark, California.
  
  Note that the list of defendants included officers from A.O. Smith, Inc., Bradford White, State Industries, Mor-Flo Industries, W.L. Jackson Manufacturing Company, and perhaps others. These companies or their officers were indicted on charges of raising and fixing and coordinating prices.
  
  Note that an indictment is an accusation, not proof of the commission of a crime.
  
  The defendants were charged with violation of the Sherman Anti Trust Act over a period extending from possibly as early as the 1950s, certainly from 1963 and extending into 1977.
• National Steel Construction, Inc. a building contractor / plumbing company privately held in Seattle Washington at 3937 Sw 109th Street Seattle, WA 98146 Phone: (206) 242-0392 and employing a staff of 1 - which suggest something but not that the company remains in business as a water heater manufacturer.
• National Steel Construction Company, now in Myanmar, NSC, Tel: 95-9 974777022, 95-9 974777044 Email: info@nscmyanmar.com No.(5), Min Nandar Street, East Dagon Industrial Zone, Yangon, Myanmar Web: http://www.nscmyanmar.com/
  
  This company has nothing to do with the manufacture of water heaters. Website excerpt: To meet the heated construction demand in Myanmar, National Steel & Construction Co.,Ltd incorporated in 2012.
  

...

---

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---

---

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2022-04-27 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - data tag needed to determine tank size

@Chris Gaines,

I'm not sure the tank size is encoded in the serial number. Please attach a photo of the data tag.

On 2022-04-27 by Chris Gaines

I have a water storage holding tank serial 38523 trying to find out how many gallons of water does it hold

On 2022-04-03 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - don't confuse pressure temperature relief valve with an 'air bleeder' vent

@David,

That photo shows a pressure-temperature relief valve mounted atop the water heater - it is not an "air bleeder" vent.

I can't see if a proper discharge tube is installed, but I do see what looks like white crud that might indicate that the valve has been leaking; if so it's unsafe and should be replaced.

Details about water heater TPR valves are at RELIEF VALVE, WATER HEATER

On 2022-04-03 by David

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, it's the valve on the top correct.

On 2022-04-02 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@David,

Water heaters don't normally include an air-bleed valve.

But if you are refilling an emptied hot water tank, indeed you do need to provide an exit path for air in the tank.

The safest way to do that is to open a nearby hot water faucet while re-filling the tank.

An alternative we sometimes use is to open the relief valve using its test lever - with the caveat that if nobody has tested the relief valve for many years you might find that opening that valve leads to having to replace it if it won't close fully afterwards. That's not as bad as one might think, since you'll have disclosed a latent safety defect: the valve, if it won't close properly, needed to be replaced.

A leak behind the center panel on an electric water heater needs further investigation: it may be a leak where the electric water heater element is mounted.

On 2022-04-02 by David

I have a water heater from 1970. Where is the bleed off valve for air? The leak was right behind the electric panel in the center of the tank. Now my other question is, is the air valve to bleed the tank on the top like most.

On 2022-03-21 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Ronald C. Leland,

Above in our reader Q&A section of the article on this page in our reply to reader Cory we illustrate some ceramic water heater elements and cite some possible sources of replacements.

Meanwhile can you post a photo of your heater's data tag and in a second comment a photo of the whole heater or of the portion of it showing its brand? That would be helpful.

On 2022-03-21 by Ronald C. Leland

My national water was installed in my home in 1953 when it was built.The original owner, owned the local Building & Hdw! I have had to replece only 2 heating elements since purchacing the home in 1986. The local plumbing shop sold me all thay had (2) when the first element failed 19 yrs. ago! Not bad for serial no. 353539!

Where can I find replacements?? I have the ceramic and wire type. Thank you ronleland98x@gmail.com

On 2022-02-23 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - National Steel water heater leak diagnosis

@Victoria Lynn,

Before condemning the National Steel water heater itself, let's look more carefully at the heater to see exactly where the unit is leaking.

If the leak is at the water heater body itself (usually on or near its bottom) then the heater is shot and needs replacement.

But if the leak is at a temperature relief valve or at a plumbing fitting connection then the heater itself may be fine.

If the leak was at the relief valve then there is an over-pressure or over-temperature problem (and safety concern) that needs to be corrected.

If the leak is at a plumbing connection that needs repair but the National Steel Construction Co. water heater itself may still be usable.

Please tell us The country and city of location and the age of your home - when was it built?

On 2022-02-23 by Victoria Lynn

I bought my house in 1996. I have not had any issues with the water heater until tonight. It leaked all over my laundry room. I had just replaced the water pump in my washer and thought that was it but the water heater (housed above the washer) was dripping.

I cant find any information about it other than this one panel on the front. I don't know the age, style, capacity... only that it's purely electric and worked like a charm until tonight.
Please help!

On 2021-12-21 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator (mod) - 1951 National Steel Water Heater Wire & Ceramic Heater Element

@Cory,

Thank you so much for that photo of the water heater element from your 1951 National Steel water heater. [Shown below]

I've added additional patent disclosures for inventions by Dirk Esinga and is son Dirk Esinga, Jr. dating between 1929 and 1967 along with some illustration of the water heater elements and components used in National Steel water heaters, but I was unable to find a patent disclosure describing the exact, and unusual design of your combined ceramic and wire heating element. So the photo is valuable and will be of interest to others.

It'd be a helpful contribution if you could post a high resolution photo (one per comment) of the whole water heater and a closeup of its data tag(s).

While nobody would argue with replacing a water heater that has given service for over 70 years, it might be slightly possible that a modern water heater element would fit in the same opening as this ceramic one.

I said "slightly" because modern water heaters use one of two standardized heating element mount designs: a threaded screw-in fitting or a four-bolt "bolt-on" fitting and though I can't see the attachment method for your heater element I suspect that its 1950s design was different.

Open Coil & Other Dry Water Heater Element Designs

These ceramic and "wire" water heater elements use a design found in other applications and in variation like the "open coil" dry water heater element I show below. This product is still in production in this or similar designs by Camco and other manufacturers.

A dry water heater element is intended to be inserted into a tube or well that separates the actual heater element from the water to be heated. Your water heater element may be an earlier version of that design, shown below.

An advantage of the dry water heater element design is that the heater element can be changed or replaced without having to drain water from the heater's tank.

A similar heating element, called a bundle-rod heater, is shown below and is sold by Paco Heat Equipments, Bengaluru, Karnataka. We also show another ceramic heater element design providing 1200W and made by M/s H.s.heaters And Electricals in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

...

On 2021-12-21 by Cory

This is about the only page that comes up when looking for my water heater. Because of this page I've determined it was built in 1951. It has been going strong for the last 70 years.

Alas, a small amount of water got inside the main electric housing and blew one of the elements, which looks like nothing I've ever seen

I've scoured the internet and haven't been able to find anything that even mentions anything like it. I guess it's time to put the old work horse down and get a new one.

[Photo above]

On 2021-03-08 by (mod) - Gold colored "El Dorado" gas burner used on National Water Heaters

@claire rhyne, beautiful. belongs in an industrial aesthetics or art display.

On 2021-03-08 by claire rhyne

Attached is the picture of the El Dorado National Gas Water Burner trophy.

On 2021-03-07 by Question on old El Dorado Burner

Is this part of your company history? Any info would be helpful if it is. Thanks Claire

Found an old trophy at a garage sale " It has a gas burner stamped 38006 mounted on a wooden base.
The inscription on the base was
National proudly presents....
El Dorado
This golden heart of the National gas water heater burns all types of gas
with maximum efficiency. El Dorado is the high recovery burner,
engineered for long life and silent operation . . .
One more symbol of National quality.

Question: is this 1928 National Steel electric water heater repairable? - Ser. No. 281767 Size: AT-43

[Click to enlarge any image]

2021/01/18 Ann said:

I have an old water heater, its been in my house since I've lived here, 2002 with no problems, now its not heating water anymore.

Its not leaking and given its long life, I would really like to not have to replace it if possible, but I'm not sure parts exist for it anymore. at least the thermostatic switch (?).

I read the info on how to date the appliance, and if I'm correct mine is 1928 (?).

I would love to have a manual for it, or any info on whether its better to just replace with something new.

Moderator reply: electric water heaters are usually simple to repair if the tank isn't leaking

Ann

If the heater is not leaking, considering the simplicity of electric water heaters, you might see if you can have a burnt-out heating element or control replaced; the parts are often rather standard.

Made in 1928! That would be remarkable life for any water heater. Also, I'd like to see a photo of the whole water heater

Reader follow-up:

Ann said:
The local plumbing company says the heater needs to be replaced, and, I've never seen a thermostat that looks like this one has.

I haven't taken out an element because I've yet to determine how to drain it. I would really like to keep it as is and replace the parts, but not sure they can be found. Do you know of a source?

Here's the thermostat "thing"

Moderator reply:

But if it has failed, the thermostat on your heater may be one that's hard to match; you may find newer ones won't mount.

In which case I'd agree with your plumber. Thank you for the helpful photos and details.

Reader follow-up:

So I shouldn't even bother trying to see what the elements look like? Sorta bummed, hoped I'd be able to keep using such an old thing! Thanks though, for your help!

Moderator reply:

No, of course you could look at the heating element. After all you're about to throw the thing away so there is nothing lost with first seeing if it can be repaired for simply the 10 or $20 cost of a part.

But if you're having to hire a plumber to do the work you may find that the cost of the labor begins to make it less attractive.

Also it appears to me that the size of your tank is such that its capacity as an electric water heater is quite small compared with modern units.

In fact it would be nice to know the dimensions of the tank and to see close up photos of any additional printing or labels that you can find on it. That will allow me to do more research.

That pipe coming off the bottom of the heater tank is perhaps the COLD-IN line and below that point there may be a tee providing a tank drain.

Reader follow-up: mechanical sort of girl can fix a water heater

Ann said:

I wouldn't hire a plumber unless I have to, being a relatively mechanical sort of gurl; I will take the elements out after I've figured out how to drain it, or even if I have to drain it - any clue if this old of an appliance has a drain somewhere?

I am currently boiling dish water and showering next door, works for now so am not in a hurry to decide exactly what can be done.

Its just me using the water, so the size of the tank doesn't hamper me much as long as I don't do lots of dishes on the same day I shower!

My first preference is still to see if it can be saved, since I haven't had to do anything to it until now. I have more brown insulation to remove and its a messy process, ha! I'll keep you posted if I find any more information. Thanks!

Moderator reply:

No

Always turn off power first,

Look for a drain near tank bottom

Replacing water heater electrodes is at

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER ELEMENT REPLACEMENT

and your data tag gives the two heater element wattages:

• Upper element: 1500 Watts
• Lower element: 1000 Watts

Also can you tell us the country and city where this National Steel electric water heater is installed and tell us the age of the building?

And is it possible that your heater was made in 1949 or could that 3-49 stamped on the heater body near its top refer to something else?

On 2020-10-30 - by (mod) - where to buy replacement electric calorifier elements

Typically those are standard parts that are widely available at plumbing suppliers, building suppliers, and from the manufacturer as well as from online vendors

On 2020-10-29 by Gloria

Where can i get the elements 220/240 3000w I need to replace an element and dont know where to order one

On 2020-07-15 Todd said: 1950s National Steel Construction in Washington State

Hello,

I would like to know the age of my hot water heater. It is located in Kitsap County, Washington which is near Seattle.

The house is an old summer cabin built by my grandfather around 1915, but the hot water heater was installed in the 1950s or 1960s.

It still works today with no problems. I replaced the heating elements about 15 years ago. I will attach a photo of the water heater and data tag.

Thank you,
Todd

[Click to Enlarge Any Image]

Moderator reply:

Todd

Thank you for the national steel water heater photos and age question.

Often the age is given for at least the year in the first two digits of the National Water Heater serial number.

Your Heater's data tag gives us

430792

YYnnnn, possibly YYMMnn which has your water heater manufactured in 1943 (the year I was born).

Is that possible?

I'm did some additional research on your heater's serial number and taking a look at those patent numbers found on your National Steel water heater's data tag. That can give a "no older date" floor s I'm listing these patents with most-recent at the top of the list, starting with U.S. patents.

The patent dates are consistent with a water heater made in the 1940s or 1950s. Notice that there is no patent cited that was issued later than 1938!

• Dirk Eisinga, THERMOSTATIC SWITCH [PDF] Canadian Patent No. 375061 - National Steel Construction Co. (owner), issued 1938-07-12, expired 1955-07-12
• Vaughan, Victor G. "Water heater control system." U.S. Patent 1,996,634, issued April 2, 1935. Application filed by Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co.
• Schrumm, Jewett F. "Electric power demand control system." U.S. Patent 1,674,451, issued June 19, 1928.
• Apfel, Philip F. "Electric heater." U.S. Patent 1,699,323, issued January 15, 1929.

On 2020-01-09 by (mod) - 1973 National Steel Construction Company Water heater

Katie

Well the good news is that electric water heaters are actually mechanically very simple and that their controls including thermostats & heating elements, are pretty standard across the industry, showing up in just a few variations such as heating element Mount of which there are two common designs, and heating element length.

So there's not much to replace if the tank itself is not damaged. Of course if the tank is leaking you'll replace the whole water heater.

Watch out however. If you're not familiar with safe and proper electrical wiring you should understand that making a mistake could kill someone or start a fire and burn the house down.

On 2020-01-09 4 by KatieB

Yes, I've read everything I can find on your site regarding national steel water heaters. We'd like to service it ourselves but don’t want to go poking around without some prior knowledge.

Thanks so much for the response and any help you can provide.

On 2020-01-04 by (mod) - 1973 National Steel Construction Company Water heater manual

Katie

I'll look further to see if I can find a manual for your water heater. It's not when I come across. I hope you have read the discussion of national steel water heaters in the article above on this page.

See details at NATIONAL STEEL CONSTRUCTION CO WATER HEATERS

On 2019-12-28 by KatieB

We have a 1973 National Steel Construction Company Water heater - 40 gallon. I've looked everywhere I can think on on this site for a manual and haven't located one. Is there something I'm missing? Is there a manual for this brand available?

Above: a data tag from a 1973 National Steel Construction Co. natural gas fired water heater, courtesy of InspectApedia.com reader KatieB.

On 2019-11-10 by (mod) - 30 year old National Steel Construction Co. Water Heater

Thank for the question and photo, N.S.

At NATIONAL STEEL CONSTRUCTION CO WATER HEATERS

you will see your photo and my detailed reply.

We welcome further comment and questions and also

if you can post a photo of the whole water heater (one photo per comment)
and a photo of any other logos or markings or tags on the heater that would be valuable.

The company was sold to A.O. Smith in the 1970s as you'll read in the link I just gave

On 2019-11-10 by National Steel

We have been unable to find any info on this water heater. It's still working great but all guesses seem to be that it's over 30 years old.

On 2019-01-29 by (mod) - National Steel Construction Electric Water heaters

Thanks for asking Valerie, National Steel Construction Electric Water heaters are not a brand with which I'm familiar - I'll do some research to see what I an find.

Attach a photo of the heater and another of its data tag - that will help us find an answers.

Please tell me also the country and city where the heater is located and also the age of the building itself.

The company itself operated in the U.S. at least from the 1950s according to trademark research.

Their water heater brands included

National

Doublex

Elektro-flo

Glasteel

No. 595,548. National Steel Construction Co., Seattle, Wash. Filed Apr. 11, 1950. FOR AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS. Claims use since July 1924.

National Steel Construction Co. (Water Heaters) was bought by or absorbed into A.O. Smith water heater co. in 1979

Interim guesses try to spot a reasonable year in the serial number you gave - 76 62 or 70 - we're looking further, pending your answer to my questions.

IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2019-01-28 by Valerie Armbruster

need the age of national steel construction electric water heater model #5G76 s/n 76 620870
thank you

...

Continue reading  at WATER HEATER LIFE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES
• AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES
• WATER HEATER AGE DECODING GUIDES - six methods for figuring out the age of a water heater
• WATER HEATER AGE & MANUALS - home
• WATER HEATER LEAK REPAIR
• WATER HEATER LIFE
• WATER HEATER RESET BUTTONS & CONTROLS
• WATER HEATER WARRANTIES

Suggested citation for this web page

NATIONAL STEEL CONSTRUCTION CO WATER HEATERS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER HEATERS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Questions & answers or comments about how to find out the age of a heating appliance: water heater, heating boiler, heating furnace.

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---