The present disclosure discloses a defrosting control method, a central controller and a heating system. The defrosting control method comprises: heating fluid in a flow passage between an inlet and an outlet of a first heat source by a second heat source, at least in a part of process of defrosting by the first heat source; acquiring an operation parameter of the first heat source, wherein the operation parameter comprises a water outlet temperature and/or a water return temperature and/or an operation parameter of a compressor of the first heat source, comparing a current value of the acquired operation parameter with a preset range of the operation parameter, and adjusting a heat exchange amount between the second heat source and the fluid when the acquired current value is within the preset range. The defrosting control method, the central controller and the heating system provided by the present disclosure can improve the defrosting efficiency while considering the heating comfort, and ensure the stable operation of the defrosting process.

An air conditioning system includes a heat pump having a refrigerant radiator, a gas furnace unit having a heating section to heat passing air, a blower generating air flow through the radiator and the heating section, and a controller controlling operation of the heat pump unit, the gas furnace unit, and the blower. The controller has a first operating mode in which the gas furnace unit operates alone as a heat source unit, a second operating mode in which the heat pump unit operates alone as a heat source unit, and a third operating mode in which the gas furnace unit and the heat pump unit operate at the same time as a heat source unit. The controller is configured to select the operating modes based on a parameter relating to outside air temperature that is the temperature of outside air.

A water heating system including a tank, a first heating element, a second heating element, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a controller having an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is configured to determine an output temperature setpoint, determine whether a period of expected high water demand is approaching, and in response to determining that the period of expected high water demand is approaching, activate the second heating element. The controller is further configured to deactivate the second heating element when a second temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor crosses a second temperature threshold, activate the first heating element when the second temperature crosses the second temperature threshold, and deactivate the first heating element. Wherein the first temperature threshold is lower than the second temperature threshold and the first and second temperature thresholds are higher than the output temperature setpoint.

A smart boiler system serving boilers each equipped with sensor/s monitoring an aspect of boiler water heating functionality and a local controller collecting sensor data and communicating data to remote server, the system comprising a central server in data communication with said data network and including a processor having operational mode/s including a maintenance-needs-detection operational mode operative to scan data stored in a boiler data repository, on occasion, and to rank boilers accordingly, in terms of predetermined criterion defining maintenance need/s, and provide push output/s indicating a subset of boilers currently ranking high in terms of predetermined criterion defining at least one maintenance need.

A storage water heater includes at least one heating device, at least one storage tank wherein water is stored and heated, at least one control and management unit capable of checking at least the heating device, at least one inlet duct through which water may be introduced into the tank, at least one outlet duct through which water may be sent/withdrawn from the tank, wherein there are at least two heating devices, of which at least one main heating device and at least one auxiliary heating device are provided, and wherein the water heater includes a circulator dedicated, via at least one hydraulic connection duct, to the recirculation of the storage water stored in the tank, the circulator being capable of recirculating the water of the storage between the lower part and the top part of the tank, by passing through the auxiliary heating device.

A storage water heater includes at least one heating device, at least one storage tank wherein water is stored and heated, at least one control and management unit capable of controlling the at least one heating device, at least one inlet duct through which water may be introduced into the tank, at least one outlet duct through which water may be sent/withdrawn from the tank, at least two heating devices, of which at least one main heating device and at least one second auxiliary heating device adapted to act as a pre-heater, wherein the water heater includes a by-pass duct capable of deviating, entirely or partially, the water flow entering the tank so as to guide and convey it in a zone of the tank placed at a height higher than the outlet section of the inlet duct.

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.

Techniques for use with vent covers of furnace ductworks are described herein. A vent cover may include a fan to actively pull air from the ductwork and into a room at least in part in response to a number of open or closed vents in ductwork to which the vent cover is connected. Active air movement through the vent cover may lower air pressure and/or temperature within the ductwork and increase airflow through heat exchangers of the furnace, thereby compensating for zones created by closed vent covers. A system may monitor factors consistent with a furnace over-temperature event, such as furnace operation, closed vent covers, high air pressure or temperature in ductwork, etc. A fan of a vent cover may be turned on to actively draw air through a vent covered by the vent cover. The fan may turn off after conclusion of at least one of the monitored factors.

Techniques for use with vent covers of furnace ductworks are described herein. A vent cover may include a fan to actively pull air from the ductwork and into a room at least in part in response to a number of open or closed vents in ductwork to which the vent cover is connected. Active air movement through the vent cover may lower air pressure and/or temperature within the ductwork and increase airflow through heat exchangers of the furnace, thereby compensating for zones created by closed vent covers. A system may monitor factors consistent with a furnace over-temperature event, such as furnace operation, closed vent covers, high air pressure or temperature in ductwork, etc. A fan of a vent cover may be turned on to actively draw air through a vent covered by the vent cover. The fan may turn off after conclusion of at least one of the monitored factors.

A storage water heater is provided that allows for improved maintenance of hygiene in a lower part of a hot-water storage tank and in a passage connected to the lower part of the hot-water storage tank. A storage water heater includes a heating device, a hot-water storage tank, a first passage, and a controller. The hot-water storage tank stores hot water. The first passage is connected to a lower part of the hot-water storage tank. The controller is configured to selectively switch between a heat-up operation and a recirculation operation. In the heat-up operation, hot water heated by the heating device is delivered to an upper part of the hot-water storage tank. In the recirculation operation, hot water flowing out from the upper part of the hot-water storage tank is delivered to the lower part of the hot-water storage tank via the first passage.