A burner appliance is disclosed. The burner appliance includes a byproduct sensor in an exhaust flue and/or a barometric pressure sensor to detect an environmental pressure at the burner appliance. By calculating concentrations of combustion byproducts in the exhaust with the byproduct sensor, a controller can adjust blower speed and/or fuel rate to modify combustion efficiency. By calculating the environmental pressure at the burner with the barometric pressure sensor, the controller can adjust blower speed and/or fuel rate to modify combustion efficiency. The barometric-pressure data can also be used to adjust blower speed control bands, thereby calibrating the control bands based on environmental pressure. The environmental pressure can be indicative of altitude and/or weather conditions. Methods of operating said burner appliance are also disclosed.

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 fuel-fired device can include an air-moving device that mixes air and a fuel to generate a fuel-air mixture. The fuel-fired device can also include an air box that provides the air to the air-moving device, and a fuel valve that provides the fuel to the air-moving device, where the fuel valve includes a tracking port coupled to the air box, where the tracking port detects a pressure of the air box. The fuel-fired device can further provide a pressure-regulating device disposed between a pressurized component and the tracking port of the fuel valve. The flow regulating device can control, during an ignition phase of operation, an amount of the fuel provided by the fuel valve to the air-moving device.

An open-vented instant water heater is configured so as to prevent damaging thereof in cases of incorrect installation. The water heater comprises a water canister with a heating element and has a normally open outlet pipe, wherein the outlet pipe is provided with a flow sensing device comprising: a one-way valve which allows water to flow from the canister toward the outer end of the outlet pipe while preventing a water flow in the opposite direction, and/or a water flow mechanism adapted to switch the heating element OFF whenever detecting in the outlet pipe either a water flow towards the canister, or absence of any water flow.

Methods and systems for determining a possible leak within a gas water heater. One system is a gas water heater including a blower and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to activate the blower for a predetermined amount of time, receive, during the predetermined amount of time, a measurement of a characteristic of the blower, perform a comparison between the measurement and a predetermined characteristic threshold, and determine, based on the comparison, that a blockage is present within the water heater. The electronic processor is further configured to output a notification in response to determining the blockage is present.

A system for controlling a combustion appliance based on one or more localized environmental factors and an inlet/exhaust system enclosed within a single enclosure. The control system includes an electrically controlled fuel valve, coupled to a source of combustion appliance fuel, and responsive to a fuel valve control signal, for controlling the flow of fuel to the appliance. An air pressure detector is disposed in an area proximate the combustion appliance and configured for detecting negative air pressure in the proximate area and in response for providing a negative air pressure detection signal to a relay which will deactivate the fuel valve until negative air pressure is not present thereby preventing operation of the combustion appliance. Further, if negative air pressure is detected, the relay energizers a makeup air device to bring an outside air into the area near the combustion appliance.

An oil boiler according to the present disclosure includes a combustion chamber in which a combustion reaction occurs, a burner including a fuel nozzle that sprays fuel of an oil type into the combustion chamber, an air nozzle that injects air into the combustion chamber, and a spark plug that ignites a mixture of the fuel and the air, an air supply pipe that guides the air supplied to the air nozzle, a duct that releases combustion gas, a heat exchanger that heats heating water by heat from the combustion reaction, and a case that receives said components. The duct includes a flue connecting adaptor to which a corrugated pipe and a flue are connected, in which the corrugated pipe is connected to an inlet of the air supply pipe into which the air is introduced, and the flue releases the combustion gas to the outside of the case.

A flame sensor for a furnace of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a sensor body and an electrically conductive member of the sensor body. The electrically conductive member is configured to be disposed within a flame region of a burner of the furnace and configured to receive electrical current from a controller of the furnace. The flame sensor also includes an anti-oxidation coating disposed on an outer surface of the electrically conductive member and configured to transmit the electrical current from the electrically conductive member. The anti-oxidation coating is configured to contact a flame produced by the burner and expose the electrical current to the flame.

A residential and commercial sewerage, drainage and water disposal system and device that includes a ferrous metal cleanout plug and a pair of magnetic electrical connectors disposed in the cleanout plug, without being in physical contact with one another, where the magnetic electrical connectors are magnetically attached to the interior of the cleanout plug and retain in place an insulator plate, and where the electrical connectors are electrically connected with an alarm/control module capable of emitting and alarm and/or closing the main water supply shut off valve, so that the electrical connectors open or close an electric circuit when the fluid reaches the connectors and activates an alarm and/or and shuts off the water valve, promoting safer sewerage, drainage and water disposal system operation.

A residential and commercial sewerage, drainage and water disposal system and device that includes a ferrous metal cleanout plug and a pair of magnetic electrical connectors disposed in the cleanout plug, without being in physical contact with one another, where the magnetic electrical connectors are magnetically attached to the interior of the cleanout plug and retain in place an insulator plate, and where the electrical connectors are electrically connected with an alarm/control module capable of emitting and alarm and/or closing the main water supply shut off valve, so that the electrical connectors open or close an electric circuit when the fluid reaches the connectors and activates an alarm and/or and shuts off the water valve, promoting safer sewerage, drainage and water disposal system operation.