An automatically flushing water heater maintenance system may be provided, the system including a water heater and a water heater controller. The water heater may include an inlet, an outlet, and a flush outlet having a first control valve in flow communication therewith. The first control valve may be configured to control a flow of water and sediment through the flush outlet out of the water heater. The water heater controller may be configured to communicate with the first control valve by transmitting a first control signal to the first control valve, the first control signal configured to cause the first control valve to open or close as part of an automatic flushing process. As a result of the flushing, the useful life of the water heater may be extended, and/or water heater leakage alleviated. Insurance discounts may be provided based upon using the automatic water heater flushing functionality.

A water heater includes a combustion device, a primary heat exchanger, and a secondary heat exchanger. The combustion device burns gas to generate high-temperature air. The primary and the secondary heat exchangers are provided sequentially above the combustion device. When the high-temperature air passes through the primary heat exchanger, part of thermal energy is absorbed by exchange plates and a water pipe therein. When the high-temperature air continues to pass through the secondary heat exchanger, part of the rest thermal energy is absorbed by a heat tube set therein to preheat water flowing through the heat tube set. The preheated water then flows into the water pipe of the primary heat exchanger. The secondary heat exchanger includes a case and a cover board which detachably seals a bore on the case. Whereby, it is convenient for a user to clean pipes inside the secondary heat exchanger.

A tankless water heater including a water inlet, a water outlet, a conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor, and a heating chamber connected to the water inlet and the water outlet wherein the heating chamber is configured to heat a flow of water received from the water inlet and output the flow of water to the water outlet. The water heating system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the conductivity sensor and the temperature sensor, where the controller calculates an adjusted conductivity of a flow of water through the water heater.

A water heating apparatus includes: a water container configured to heat water via a convection process by receiving the water through an inlet and passing water through an outlet; and one positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element or a plurality of PTC heating elements arranged within the water container and configured to be immersed during the convection process. The plurality of PTC heating elements have a gap between each PTC heating element. Further, the water heating apparatus includes at least one ultrasonic transducer attached to the water container and configured to project ultrasound onto and around the PTC heating element or the plurality PTC heating elements within the water container and to descale the PTC heating element or the plurality of PTC heating elements.

A water heater flushing system includes a housing having an inlet configured to be coupled to a drain port of the water heater and receive water therefrom, and an outlet configured to discharge water from the housing. A series of filter elements are positioned and spaced apart within the housing transverse to a water flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet, the series of filter elements are configured to separate solid impurities from the water according to different particle sizes (e.g. progressively different or finer particle sizes) in the water flow path between the inlet and the outlet. A viewing feature, such as a transparent lid, is carried by the housing and configured to provide visual access to an interior of the housing for inspection of separated solid impurities at each of the filter elements. A sediment buster may be coupled to the inlet of the housing and configured to send a fluid into the drain port of the water heater. The sediment buster may include a fluid supply device, and shut-off valve between the fluid supply device and the inlet of the housing.

A water heater can include a tank. The water heater can also include a heat exchanger that includes multiple flue tube segments disposed within the tank, where the flue tube segments include a thermally-conductive material. The heat exchanger can further include a heating system that heats a fluid to create a heated fluid, where the heating system further circulates the heated fluid through the flue tube segments, where the flue tube segments absorb thermal energy from the heated fluid and subsequently dissipate the thermal energy into the tank to convert the unheated water to the heated water. The water heater can also include a controller coupled to the heating system, where the controller operates the heating system outside of a normal heating cycle when the controller determines that condensation has accumulated in the flue tube segments, where operating the heating system outside of the normal heating cycle removes the condensation.

A sediment buster is used for water heater draining. The sediment buster includes a main body defining a conduit and configured to be coupled to a drain outlet of a tank of the water heater. The conduit is configured to transport a fluid into the drain outlet to break up sediment accumulated at the drain outlet inside the tank. A first connector at an end of the main body is configured to be coupled to the drain outlet of the tank, and a second connector is at an opposite end of the main body. An inlet valve is positioned on the main body and configured to receive the fluid to be sent into the drain outlet via the conduit and the first connector. A shut-off valve is positioned on the main body between the inlet valve and the second connector to selectively regulate the direction of flow of the fluid within the conduit from the inlet valve. A fluid supply device is coupled to the inlet valve for selectively supplying the fluid to be sent into the drain outlet via the conduit and the first connector.

An automated descaling system can be integrated into a tankless water heater or can be a separate system that is connected to a tankless water heater. The automatic descaling system comprises a cleaning media chamber and a valve with a motor. The descaling system can be set on an automatic cleaning schedule.

A boiler that includes a housing is disclosed. The housing houses a combustion chamber, a heat exchanger system, a heat flow path, an isolating member, and a movable access panel. The heat flow path thermally couples the combustion chamber and the heat exchanger system. The isolating member at least partially separates the combustion chamber from the heat exchanger system. A fluid jacket is operable to thermally couple fluid disposable within the fluid jacket about a fluid side area of heat exchangers of the heat exchanger system. The movable access panel is positioned about or coupled to an exterior wall of the housing. When the movable access panel is moved to an open position, a user is provided access to a gas side area of the heat exchangers for servicing or cleaning of the heat exchangers from an exterior environment of the boiler.

The invention provides for protection of life safety, property and the liability thereof, by means of a intrinsically safe unpressurized storage tank water heater while producing hot pressurized water. The design addresses, with effect, convection, radiation, conduction and evaporative heat energy losses. Heat lost returned as usable hot water resulting in ultra-low standing loss. The stationary water medium prevents sedimentation, fouling of the heating element and gases expelled. Being dielectrically isolated, the medium may also be treated to further reduce corrosion. The design allows for a quick recovery rate and provides adjustable volume of hot water, being stackable, stage able, renewable, repairable and recyclable.