The "flash heaters" that Grizzy The OSHA Per-fesser has described are also big in parts Peru, that tend to be cold but people don't want to spring for a real boiler.
In Colombia, if you want hot water you buy a real hot water heater (tall tank or a short large kettle connected to electricty -- usually 220 volts hot-hot) just like in the USA. Town-gas models are also for sale now that town-gas use is getting popular.
In fact, cosmetically they look the same. However there are some locally-made brands (Haceb and Icasa are the two major national manufacturers) and imported models. However, flash heaters (calentadores de paso) are also available for people who live in apartments or don't have the ability to use a normal heater.
Here in New York, the local Quiznos hot sandwich shop around the block from my office has a flash heater connected to the bathroom sink. It's powered off a 220 volt hot-hot socket underneath the sink (not GFCI protected at the outlet, maybe at the breaker box?).
The damned thing doesn't work! It's bull! You run the water, the light on the little plastic box turns on....but the water is still ice cold in the winter (and cold in the summer)!!!!!! I'm starting to think it's just a box with a lightbulb.
Isn't there a health code that says you must have hot water in your restaurant bathroom?
[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 02-20-2003).]