Systems and methods for dynamically collecting data from water heating appliances. A water heating system comprises a water heating appliance. The water heating appliance includes a controller having an electronic processor. The controller is configured to receive, in response to the water heating appliance being in a first operating mode, operational data of the water heating appliance at a first sampling rate. The controller is further configured to receive, in response to the water heating appliance being in a second operating mode, operational data of the water heating appliance at a second sampling rate.

A method of operating a heating and cooling system includes (1) providing a heating and/or cooling apparatus having first and second heat exchangers, (2) providing a conduit module modularly coupled to the heating and/or cooling apparatus and adapted to be coupled to a plurality of fluid circuits for heating or cooling loads, and (3) operating a control system configured to operate the conduit module in a heating or cooling mode. The conduit module is positioned between the heating and/or cooling apparatus and the plurality of fluid circuits. The conduit module includes first, second, and third supply conduits and first, second, and third return conduits, to convey first, second, and source fluids to and from respective first, second, and source fluid circuits. The conduit module includes first, second, third, and fourth three-way valves to selectively regulate flow of the first, second, and source fluids.

A fault detection system for detecting a flow restriction in an air handler is provided. The system includes a coil, air and liquid temperature sensors, a smart valve and a notification device. The coil is located in an air stream of the air handler. The air temperature sensors are located in the air stream, one sensor determining an air temperature of air upstream of the coil and another determines an air temperature downstream of the coil. The liquid temperature sensors determine a liquid temperature entering the coil and exiting the coil. The smart valve includes a controller in communication with the liquid temperature sensors and at least one of the air temperature sensors that uses the measured air temperature downstream of the coil and a valve actuator position to determine whether the coil is operating at a reduced capacity. The notification device communicates with the controller of the smart valve.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a controller associated with a residence. The controller is configured to determine an expected value range for an operating parameter of a component of the HVAC system. Additionally, the controller is configured to receive a signal from a sensor indicative of a current value of the operating parameter of the component and determine if the current value of the operating parameter is outside the expected value range. Based on the determination that the current value is outside the expected value range, the controller is additionally configured to initiate a diagnostic mode of the controller. In the diagnostic mode, the controller is configured to collect diagnostic data associated with the HVAC system.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a controller associated with a residence. The controller is configured to determine an expected value range for an operating parameter of a component of the HVAC system. Additionally, the controller is configured to receive a signal from a sensor indicative of a current value of the operating parameter of the component and determine if the current value of the operating parameter is outside the expected value range. Based on the determination that the current value is outside the expected value range, the controller is additionally configured to initiate a diagnostic mode of the controller. In the diagnostic mode, the controller is configured to collect diagnostic data associated with the HVAC system.

Various ways to control the ambient temperature of a room in a structure are described. In one embodiment, a method for intelligently controlling an ambient room temperature in a structure is described, comprising receiving a future outdoor temperature forecast related to a geographic area where the structure is located, and altering a temperature profile for controlling the ambient room temperature based on the future outdoor temperature forecast.

Various ways to control the ambient temperature of a room in a structure are described. In one embodiment, a method for intelligently controlling an ambient room temperature in a structure is described, comprising receiving a future outdoor temperature forecast related to a geographic area where the structure is located, and altering a temperature profile for controlling the ambient room temperature based on the future outdoor temperature forecast.

The present invention relates to a distribution pump arrangement for a bi-directional hydraulic distribution grid (10). The distribution pump arrangement comprising: a hot conduit control valve (20) in a hot conduit (12); a first distribution pump (22) having an inlet (22a) connected to the hot conduit (12) at a first side (20a) of the hot conduit control valve, and an outlet (22b) connected to the hot conduit (12) at a second side (20b), opposite the first side (20a), of the hot conduit control valve (20); a pressure difference determining device (80, 80′) arranged beyond the second side of the hot conduit control valve (20) and configured to determine a local pressure difference, Δp, between a local pressure, p.sub.hot, of heat transfer liquid in the hot conduit (12) and a local pressure, p.sub.cold, of heat transfer liquid in the cold conduit (14); and a controller (90) configured to: while Δp<a threshold value, set the distribution pump arrangement in a flowing mode, wherein: the first distribution pump (22) is set to be inactive, and the hot conduit control valve (20) is set to be open, while Δp≥the threshold value and p.sub.cold>p.sub.hot, set the distribution pump arrangement in a hot conduit pumping mode, wherein: the hot conduit control valve (20) is set to be closed, and the first distribution pump (22) is set to be active, thereby reduce the local pressure difference.

Systems, tools, and methods are presented that enable a circuit to introduce a random time delay before actuating a relay to start or stop a supply of electrical power to a heating element of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. In one instance, the circuit includes a time-delay switch electrically connected to the relay. The time-delay switch has a random time delay before entering a closed state or open state. The relay is operable to start and stop a supply of electrical power to the heating element in response to the switch entering, respectively, the closed state and the open state. Other systems, tools and methods are presented. Other systems, tools and methods are presented.

A swingable solar electric heater comprises an electric heater structure including a head swing element, a heating element, a timer, a base, and a safety dump switch. The head swing element is used to swing back and forth to perform radiant heating within a fixed angle, the timer is connected to the heating element, and the safety dump switch is used to turn off the heating element when the tilt angle of the base exceeds a limit. A current capture device captures the image data of the scene where the electric heater structure is located to obtain and output the corresponding current scene image. An early warning control device is used to extract each pixel value of each pixel in the current scene image, to calculate the standard deviation in the current scene image, and to send a blockage warning signal when the standard deviation exceeds a limit.