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.

A method for electronic, remote control of an existing heating element. A temperature probe is monitored programmatically. That data is managed via wifi connectivity. A user can then control the operation of the device (water heater or other) at any time and from any location.

An HVAC controller may wirelessly communicate with a mobile wireless device that provides a user interface for interacting with the HVAC controller. In some cases, the communication module wirelessly receives a sensed parameter from a remote wireless sensor in a living space of the building and receives a wired input from a return air sensor. A controller may be operatively coupled to the communication module and may control the HVAC system based at least in part on the sensed parameter from the remote wireless sensor when the sensed parameter from the remote wireless sensor is available and, in some cases, control the HVAC system based at least in part on the return air parameter when the sensed parameter from the remote wireless sensor is not available.

A settings data storage stores unique serial numbers and information regarding a plurality of patterns for alternately switching between normal operation for operating at high capacity and suppressed operation for operating at low capacity each unit time. A pattern specifier determines information for a pattern set in accordance with even and odd serial numbers. A water-heating heat amount determiner determines a heat amount necessary for water heating. A water heating scheduler establishes a water heating plan based on information regarding the pattern determined by the pattern determiner and the water-heating heat amount as determined by the water-heating heat amount determiner. A water heating controller alternately switches between normal operating and suppressed operation to heat water in accordance with the water heating plan established by the water heating scheduler.

A system for shifting energy demand from on-peak time windows to off-peak time windows by using hot water heater load shifting, while providing the end user with the level of service (i.e., availability of hot water) according to the user's customary use described by service quality criteria. The shift is accomplished by a controller located at the end user establishment and in communication with a central control server. The controller monitors local water heater temperature and controls heating elements in accordance with a demand shift process commanded by the central control server. The controller may determine usage and remaining capacity for reporting back to the central control server. A volumetric capacity and usage determination is disclosed. The control server may select water heaters according to use and/or capacity. Further embodiments may regulate load dependent properties of the power including voltage, phase and/or frequency.

A method to heat water in an electrical boiler includes storing user's requests of hot water in association with corresponding times of requests, heating water in advance to a next user's request, wherein the next user's request is estimated on the stored user's requests, detecting a start time of a power request from the electrical boiler, detecting a stop time of the power request, determining that a user's request of hot water has occurred if a time difference between the detected stop time and the detected start time is longer than a predetermined time, the predetermined time being a time of activation of the electrical boiler, storing the determined user's request in association with a time of the user's request, estimating a next user's request based on the stored user's request and activating the electrical boiler to heat water in advance with respect to the estimated next user's request.

Provided herein are systems and methods directed to using renewable energy sources with hot water heating systems. The system and method provide for interconnecting a single electrical heating element of a hot water heater to first and second electrical power sources. Typically, these first and second electrical power sources include a utility provided electrical power source (e.g., a fossil fuel AC power source) and a renewable energy power source. A controller selectively connects the first or second power sources.

A water heater system including two or more water storage tanks plumbed in series, parallel or a combination thereof and methods of controlling said water heater systems. The water heater systems may include one or more mixing valves and one or more temperature sensors for providing water at a desired temperature.

Disclosed herein are WIFI and cloud enabled temperature control systems. The temperature control systems are configured to receive user temperature settings and preferences, and control a water heater based on the user temperature settings and preferences. The temperature control systems include two or more sampling rates for enabling a higher efficiency of operation compared to conventional water heaters.

The disclosed technology includes an on-demand water heater which uses an electric heat source to heat the water. The on-demand water heater can have a low fluid capacity heating chamber which has an inlet and an outlet, an electric heat source for heating the water, and a controller to control the electric heat source and maintain the temperature of the water at a predetermined temperature setting. The on-demand water heater can be powered by a direct current power source. The on-demand water heater can also utilize a solar thermal system to provide additional heat to the water.