An appliance containment device is provided which is able to enclose portions of an appliance, such as a water heater, or other object to contain dirt, water, and other contaminants that the appliance may release. In some embodiments, the device may include an encasement having a first end and a second end. The first end may be open and the second end may be coupled to a base. A cavity may be disposed in the encasement and may extend between the first end and the base. The device may include a mat. Optionally, a mat may be coupled to the base outside of the cavity and/or optionally a mat may be coupled to bottom portions of an appliance, and the mat may be positioned inside the cavity with the appliance so that portions of the mat may contact portions of the base.

Overflow protection and monitoring devices capable of coupling to a drainage pan and may include: a drainage line; a base, the base including an input port; a dry section; and a wet section, the input port capable of coupling to the drainage pan; a base cover, the base cover removably coupled to the base, the base cover including a base cover output port capable of coupling to the drainage line; a fluid displacement mechanism located in the wet section, the fluid displacement mechanism including a fluid displacement mechanism output port; a fluid detection mechanism located in the wet section; and a base attachment, the base attachment coupled to the fluid displacement mechanism output port and the base cover output port, the base attachment including an air relief port and back-flow preventer; a control unit capable of energizing the fluid displacement mechanism upon receiving a signal from the fluid detection mechanism.

A water heater includes a leak detection system that is integrated with the water heater. The leak detection system includes a channel that extends circumferentially around the water heater. In one example, the channel is built into the water heater. In another example, the channel is formed by a sensor bracket that is coupled to the water heater. Further, the leak detection system includes a sensor assembly that is configured to detect water that leaks from the water heater. The sensor assembly includes a leak sensor and/or a wicking tube. The wicking tube is disposed around at least a portion of the leak sensor. Further, the wicking tube is disposed in the continuous channel and extends circumferentially along the water heater to create a circumferential area of leak detection around the water heater.

A hydronic system and method of use that will maintain normal system operating pressure while also reliably detecting even very small fluid losses in any closed loop fluid heat transfer system is described. The system includes a controller having clock or timing functionality in communication with one or more pressure sensors and a fluid supply valve that provides one or more notifications when the pressure drops below predetermined levels during predetermined periods of time. Depending on the nature of the pressure loss, the system has the capability of opening a fluid supply valve to provide make up fluid and increase system pressure.

A water heater with a leak detection system includes a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in an insulation cavity between an inner storage tank and an outer protective jacket of the water heater. The leak sensor assembly is configured to detect water that leaks from the storage tank. Further, the water heater includes a barrier that is disposed in the insulation cavity and wrapped around the inner storage tank to channel the water that leaks from the storage tank towards the leak sensor assembly, and prevent the water that leaks from the storage tank from flowing through an insulation material that is disposed in the insulation cavity.

A hydronic system and method of use that will maintain normal system operating pressure while also reliably detecting even very small fluid losses in any closed loop fluid heat transfer system is described. The system includes a controller having clock or timing functionality in communication with one or more pressure sensors and a fluid supply valve that provides one or more notifications when the pressure drops below predetermined levels during predetermined periods of time. Depending on the nature of the pressure loss, the system has the capability of opening a fluid supply valve to provide make up fluid and increase system pressure.

A condensate trap for a furnace system includes a trap inlet configured to receive combusted gases, a condensate chamber coupled to the trap inlet and configured to trap condensate, a trap outlet coupled to the condensate chamber and configured to exhaust the combusted gases, a header box inlet configured to receive condensate from a header box, and a condensate outlet configured to drain condensate from the condensate chamber. Combusted gas that passes through the condensate trap provides heat to condensate within the condensate trap to thaw frozen condensate or to prevent condensate from freezing.

A water heater includes a leak detection system. The leak detection system includes a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in a bottom pan of the water heater. The leak sensor assembly includes a sensor housing that has a sensor channel that is formed therein such that the sensor channel is disposed at an elevation from a base of the bottom pan when the sensor housing is disposed on the base of the bottom pan. Further, the leak sensor assembly includes a leak sensor that is disposed in the sensor channel of the sensor housing. The leak sensor detects water that leaks from the water heater and accumulates in the bottom pan when a level of the water in the bottom pan rises to the elevation of the sensor channel and the leak sensor that is disposed therein.

An exhaust portion is connected to a lower peripheral edge of a secondary heat exchanger case, has an exhaust vent configured to exhaust combustion gas which has passed through the secondary heat exchanger case, and has a bottom surface including a first face parallel to the lower peripheral edge. A drainage water discharge port is configured to discharge drainage water from the first face of the bottom surface. The drainage water discharge port is provided, to avoid a region overlapping with the secondary heat exchanger case from a point of view as seen in an up-down direction, in an exhaust path from the secondary heat exchanger case toward the exhaust vent.

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, and/or manufacture that is configured for operably releasing condensate from a furnace combustion gas containment system without allowing a substantial quantity of drain air to enter the condensate producing system from a drain or a substantial quantity of combustion gas to flow through the system, machine, device, and/or manufacture.