A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.

The present disclosure provides hot water heating systems and methods for heating the atmosphere within a predefined area. The systems include a hybrid water heating and storage apparatus configured to heat and store water including a heat pump and an electric heating tank. The systems include a recirculating pump configured to selectively draw a hot output flow of heated water from the electric heating tank, pass the heated water through a heat exchange fixture to heat the atmosphere within a predefined area, and direct the water back to the electric heating tank from the heat exchange fixture as a cold input flow. The systems further include thermostat electrically coupled to the recirculating pump and positioned within the predefined area configured to sense the temperature of the atmosphere within the first predefined area and selective operate of the recirculating pump based on a sensed temperature and a user selected temperature.

The present disclosure provides hot water heating systems and methods for heating the atmosphere within a predefined area. The systems include a hybrid water heating and storage apparatus configured to heat and store water including a heat pump and an electric heating tank. The systems include a recirculating pump configured to selectively draw a hot output flow of heated water from the electric heating tank, pass the heated water through a heat exchange fixture to heat the atmosphere within a predefined area, and direct the water back to the electric heating tank from the heat exchange fixture as a cold input flow. The systems further include thermostat electrically coupled to the recirculating pump and positioned within the predefined area configured to sense the temperature of the atmosphere within the first predefined area and selective operate of the recirculating pump based on a sensed temperature and a user selected temperature.

A method for managing a refrigerant charge in a system for heating water and conditioning an interior space by removing power from an indoor fan for a first duration of time prior to switching at least one valve to configure a second refrigerant circuit for satisfying a water heating demand. A method for managing a refrigerant charge in a system for heating water and conditioning an interior space by removing power from a water pump for a second duration of time prior to switching at least one valve to reconfigure a first refrigerant circuit to satisfy an interior space heating demand.

A method for managing a refrigerant charge in a system for heating water and conditioning an interior space by removing power from an indoor fan for a first duration of time prior to switching at least one valve to configure a second refrigerant circuit for satisfying a water heating demand. A method for managing a refrigerant charge in a system for heating water and conditioning an interior space by removing power from a water pump for a second duration of time prior to switching at least one valve to reconfigure a first refrigerant circuit to satisfy an interior space heating demand.

Water heater apparatus includes a tank for storing water; a heat exchanger associated with the tank and being operative to receive refrigerant and transfer heat therefrom to the tank, the heat exchanger representatively being a heat conductive tube externally wrapped around the tank in heat conductive contact therewith; air conditioning apparatus operative to utilize refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant circuit portion of the air conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant circuit portion being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; and a control system operative to selectively cause a portion of the flowing refrigerant to pass through the heat exchanger, or cause essentially the entire flow of the refrigerant to bypass the heat exchanger.

Water heater apparatus includes a tank for storing water; a heat exchanger associated with the tank and being operative to receive refrigerant and transfer heat therefrom to the tank, the heat exchanger representatively being a heat conductive tube externally wrapped around the tank in heat conductive contact therewith; air conditioning apparatus operative to utilize refrigerant flowing through a refrigerant circuit portion of the air conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant circuit portion being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; and a control system operative to selectively cause a portion of the flowing refrigerant to pass through the heat exchanger, or cause essentially the entire flow of the refrigerant to bypass the heat exchanger.

A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.

A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.

Example embodiments relate to a device for heating room air and a liquid. Room air enters and exits the device via an air inlet and an air outlet, and the liquid enters and exits the device via a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. The heat transfer device transfers the thermal energy produced by an energy unit to the liquid in an interaction area of a medium line. A conveying device moves liquid between a medium container and the medium line. A control unit controls the conveying device and/or the energy unit. In case the device is intended to heat only room air in an air mode, the control unit, in a preparation step, controls the conveying device and/or the energy unit such that liquid runs out of the medium line due to the gravitational force and/or liquid in the medium line is heated up to an evaporation temperature.