A water heater includes a tank device including a tank, an inlet passage that is connected with the tank and that introduces a fluid into the tank, and an outlet passage that is connected with the tank and that releases the fluid in the tank to a consumption site, a heating device that heats the fluid in the tank, a heater that is attached through the tank and that directly heats the fluid in the tank, a controller that is electrically connected with the heating device and the heater and that controls operations of the heating device and the heater, and an upper tank temperature sensor that is disposed in an upper part of the tank and that measures the temperature of the fluid located in the upper part of the tank. The controller determines a target heating temperature, based on a target water outlet temperature and an operating load, in which the target heating temperature is a target temperature of the fluid in the tank, the target water outlet temperature is a required water outlet temperature, and the operating load is a load of the fluid released from the outlet passage. The controller operates at least one of the heating device or the heater when a tank outlet temperature being a temperature of the fluid in the tank obtained by the upper tank temperature sensor is lower than the target heating temperature by a reference temperature or more stops operations of the heating device and the heater when the tank outlet temperature is lower than the target heating temperature by less than the reference temperature or is higher than the target heating temperature.

A water heater includes a tank device including a tank, an inlet passage that is connected with the tank and that introduces a fluid into the tank, and an outlet passage that is connected with the tank and that releases the fluid in the tank to a consumption site, a heating device that heats the fluid in the tank, a heater that is attached through the tank and that directly heats the fluid in the tank, a controller that is electrically connected with the heating device and the heater and that controls operations of the heating device and the heater, and an upper tank temperature sensor that is disposed in an upper part of the tank and that measures the temperature of the fluid located in the upper part of the tank. The controller determines a target heating temperature, based on a target water outlet temperature and an operating load, in which the target heating temperature is a target temperature of the fluid in the tank, the target water outlet temperature is a required water outlet temperature, and the operating load is a load of the fluid released from the outlet passage. The controller operates at least one of the heating device or the heater when a tank outlet temperature being a temperature of the fluid in the tank obtained by the upper tank temperature sensor is lower than the target heating temperature by a reference temperature or more stops operations of the heating device and the heater when the tank outlet temperature is lower than the target heating temperature by less than the reference temperature or is higher than the target heating temperature.

A water heating appliance includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a heater that heats a fluid that is delivered to a fixture. First and second wall panels define a perimeter wall that extends around the heater. A first top panel is attached to the first wall panel and has a seat that partially defines a dividing edge. A second top panel is disposed on a second wall panel. The second top panel includes a mount that further defines the dividing edge. The mount engages the seat to define an enclosed position. The seat extends below the mount. The dividing edge defines a cutout portion. The fluid inlet and the fluid outlet pass through the cutout portion. The second top panel is separable from the first top panel and the wall panels define a minor access aperture.

A water heater includes a heat exchanger that absorbs heat from process air for delivery into a heat exchange media and that has an outer perimeter that defines a first dimension, a blower that selectively draws the process air through the heat exchanger, and a funnel that extends between the outer perimeter of the heat exchanger and the blower. The funnel includes a rounded port proximate the blower. The rounded port has an inner perimeter that defines a second dimension which is smaller than the first dimension. The funnel has an inner surface that maintains an air pressure of the process air to be generally consistent within the heat exchanger. A portion of the funnel forms a portion of a blower housing for the blower.

A water heating appliance includes a heating system for heating a fluid from a fluid inlet. Front and rear wall panels cooperate to define a perimeter wall that extends around the heating system in a surrounding position. A junction box is externally visible with the plurality of wall panels. An attachment interface includes a sliding retainer of the front wall panel and a sliding receiver of the rear wall panel that form an interlocking attachment in the surrounding position. The front wall panel includes a junction box slot that extends around the junction box in the surrounding position. Vertical motion of the front wall panel separates the front wall panel from the rear wall panel and separates the junction box slot from the junction box and defines an open area for accessing at least the heating system.

A water heating appliance that includes a fluid inlet that has an inlet retainer end, a fluid outlet that has an outlet retainer end, and a bracket that engages the inlet retainer end and the outlet retainer end. A rotational torque that is exerted on a threaded fastener of one of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet is absorbed by the bracket and transferred from a torque receiving end proximate the threaded fastener and distributed through the bracket to a torque distributing portion of the bracket.

A water heating appliance includes: a reservoir for storing water to be heated; a refrigerant path having a compressor that directs a thermal exchange media through the refrigerant path having an evaporator that absorbs heat from process air, an evaporator fan that directs the process air across a surface of the evaporator, and a condensing coil that delivers the heat to the reservoir; a temperature sensing system that monitors a temperature of the water to be heated and a surface temperature of the evaporator; and a controller in communication with the temperature sensing system and the evaporator fan.

A water heating appliance includes: a reservoir for storing water to be heated; a refrigerant path having a compressor that directs a thermal exchange media through the refrigerant path having an evaporator that absorbs heat from process air, an evaporator fan that directs the process air across a surface of the evaporator, and a condensing coil that delivers the heat to the reservoir; a temperature sensing system that monitors a temperature of the water to be heated and a surface temperature of the evaporator; and a controller in communication with the temperature sensing system and the evaporator fan.

A heat pump water heater has a tank, a heat source, and a heat pump system. The heat pump system has a refrigerant path, at least a portion of which is in thermal communication with the water tank volume so that heat transfers from refrigerant to the water tank volume. A fan causes air to flow through a housing, and another portion of the refrigerant path includes an evaporator in the housing. The fan is within the housing and may further be within a second housing. The first housing may comprise a baffle to direct air flow. The fan may be a variable speed fan in communication with a controller, so that the controller controls the fan speed depending on a temperature of the refrigerant.