An apparatus and method for heating water using a tank or a tankless water heater with improved electronic control.

A communication adapter for collecting various kinds of information from a water-heating system and providing the information to an administration center via a wireless LAN router functions as an access point for providing a direct wireless communication with a smartphone; in response to a request from the smartphone via the direct wireless communication, it provides pairing authentication information to the smartphone; in response to a request from the smartphone, it initializes the wireless LAN connection information for the wireless LAN router to disconnect the wireless link to the wireless LAN router; and, when the wireless LAN connection information is set by its WPS function, it establishes a wireless link to the wireless LAN router and transmits the pairing authentication information to the administration center via the wireless LAN router.

A supplemental heating system includes an enclosure that encloses a primary heating device. The enclosure includes an inlet damper, an outlet damper, and an intermediate damper. In an idle state, the inlet damper and outlet damper are open while the intermediate damper is closed. In an active state, the inlet damper and outlet damper are closed while the intermediate damper is open, so that air is circulated within the enclosure.

Embodiments relate generally to a heated towel rack that includes at least one lateral support, at least one forced air heating unit in fluid communication with a channel within a lateral support, and at least one cross bar coupled to the at least one lateral support. The at least one cross bar including at least one vent that traverses into a conduit within the cross bar. The channel is in fluid communication with the at least one vent by way of the conduit.

A monitor for a natural gas-fired appliance is provided. The monitor comprises: a natural gas cycle-monitor interface configured to receive cycling signals from one or more of: the appliance; and a monitoring device located in the appliance and/or proximal to the appliance; a processor, in communication with the interface, configured to monitor cycles of the appliance based on the cycling signals; one or more indicators, in communication with the processor, configured to provide an alarm when the processor determines that the cycles of the appliance meets a threshold value; a first reset device configured to temporarily reset the one or more indicators to turn off the alarm when actuated, the one or more indicators again providing the alarm after a given time period following a temporary reset; and, a second reset device configured to reset monitoring of the cycles at the processor when actuated.

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.

Embodiments relate generally to a heated towel rack that includes at least one lateral support, at least one forced air heating unit in fluid communication with a channel within a lateral support, and at least one cross bar coupled to the at least one lateral support. The at least one cross bar including at least one vent that traverses into a conduit within the cross bar. The channel is in fluid communication with the at least one vent by way of the conduit.

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.

A communication adapter (4) for collecting various kinds of information from a water-heating system (1) and providing the information to an administration center (2) via a wireless LAN router (6) functions as an access point for providing a direct wireless communication with a smartphone (3); in response to a request from the smartphone (3) via the direct wireless communication, it provides pairing authentication information to the smartphone (3); in response to a request from the smartphone (3), it initializes the wireless LAN connection information for the wireless LAN router (6) to disconnect the wireless link to the wireless LAN router (6); and, when the wireless LAN connection information is set by its WPS function, it establishes a wireless link to the wireless LAN router (6) and transmits the pairing authentication information to the administration center (2) via the wireless LAN router (6).

In a communication system, a management server stores information about a hot water systems for each hot water system on the basis of individual identification information, and stores the individual identification information of a plurality of identification target machines for each hot water system. When the individual identification information of the plurality of identification target machines is received from a relay device, the management server collates the received individual identification information with the stored individual identification information. When at least one of the received individual identification information matches the stored individual identification information as a result of the collation, if all the individual identification information stored for the hot water system which has the identification target machine with the matching individual identification information includes individual identification information different from the received individual identification information, the management server rewrites the different individual identification information to the received individual identification information.