Legionella bacteria are natural water inhabitants found in rivers, lakes, and streams. The bacteria is found in the water supply of every building, at relatively low concentrations. The bacteria only becomes potentially lethal when conditions favorable to it's growth exist. Legionnaire's Disease is a type of pneumonia infecting the lungs. 10,000 - 100,000 cases of Legionnaire's disease occur in the U.S. each year. Alarmingly, 5% - 15% of these cases are fatal, mostly in smokers, the elderly and in those whose impaired immune systems make them susceptible to bacterial infections.

The bacteria has been found to flourish in domestic water heating systems in which the temperatures are maintained at constant levels for extended periods of time. The ideal temperature for the growth of this particular bacteria is 95 - 131 degrees F. The incubation period is 2 - 10 days.

Interestingly enough, this is the temperature maintained in the typical home's conventional tank water heater, 24 hours a day , 365 days a year. In other words, all the conditions that are necessary to the growth of this disease are present in your average residential conventional water heater's tank.

Why put your family at risk?

Replacing your conventional water heater with the Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heater eliminates the conditions that breed this disease. The water is heated only once, as you use it. When no one is using hot water in your home the temperature of the water in the pipes cools to less than the 95 - 131 degrees F. necessary to the growth of the bacteria. The temperature of the water is never maintained above 95 degrees for more than 15 - 20 minutes at a time, certainly not the 2 - 10 days required for the growth of the bacteria.