A water heating assembly, related kit, use and method make use of a temperature control near a point of use of water, so as to reduce a time response for hot water at this point of use are provided. The water heating assembly includes a tank for containing water, an inlet temperature sensor for sensing an inlet temperature of the water upstream of the tank, and a valve located upstream of the tank. The valve is actuated when the sensed inlet temperature reaches a given temperature set-point such that the water is bypassed from the tank and directly sent to the point of use. The water heating assembly is configured such that the point of use can be fed with water at the desired temperature in a reduced time, the water coming directly from the hot water source and/or the water heating assembly, thereby saving water, energy and time.

New forms of self-cleansing surfaces are provided. In some embodiments, a self-cleansing surface is provided, which is configured to be handled by a human user, as a user interface. The self-cleansing surface may comprise one or more surface device(s), with surface-covering pores configured to release a cleanser upon physical contact or actuation of the user interface, and configured to clean the self-cleansing surface. In some embodiments, the release is mediated by a physical trigger. In some embodiments, the surface device includes a control system that monitors surface handling with a sensor, and mediates the release with an actuator. The invention may be provided on or in any form of user interface that may be physically touched by a user. For example, in some embodiments, the invention may be provided on door handles or controls, appliance handles or controls, and any other user interfaces bearing a risk of carrying microbes.

A method of operating a gas heater for water including the steps of restricting a water flow to the gas heater; determining a first rate of a first gas heating for the restricted water flow; adjusting the gas heating to the restricted water flow; repeating the previous steps until a heated water has a temperature above a temperature threshold; removing the restriction to the water flow to increase the water flow; and determining a second rate of a second gas heating for the increased water flow.

Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring hot water supply in a load control network, and more particularly for ensuring that there is sufficient hot water available for a customer participating in a demand response program that uses, at least in part, water heaters as a component of the demand response program. A multi-meter that is external to the water heater is used to monitor an electrical power supply circuit on the water heater, to report preferably volts, amps, and power factor of the water heater. The multi-meter may use these measured values to, in turn, determine a current charge state of the water heater and thus ensure maintenance of an adequate supply of hot water, even in times of demand response curtailment.

Disclosed are system 100 and method of energy efficient hot and cold water management. The system 100 comprises: a control unit 101 for dynamically controlling the functioning of the system 100; at least a water storage tank 102 with at least one of a water level sensor, at least a heating element 1021, at least a temperature sensor 1022 or any combination thereof; at least an auxiliary water storage tank 103 with at least one of a water level sensor, at least a temperature sensor 1032; at least a water mixer unit 105 having at least a temperature sensor 1051; a user interface unit 1012 for controlling and monitoring different parameters including temperature, water level, opening and closing of valves 108 and 109; and a power supply with power backup unit 104 for providing basic power for proper functioning of the system 100.

A hot water tank including: a shell enclosing a chamber containing a heat exchange liquid, the shell including a base, side wall and lid; a cold water inlet connected to a first end of a heat exchanger, and a hot water outlet connected to a second end of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is located in an upper portion of the chamber; a primary heating element connected to a power source for heating the heat exchange liquid, the primary heating element being located in a lower portion of the chamber.

A tank water heater assembly is provided including a tank water heater and a drain pan provided with a sensor holder for mounting a sensor. The sensor holder accommodates a leak detection sensor at predefined distance above an inner surface of a bottom wall of the drain pan. In this way the presence of harmless small amounts of water in the drain pan do not trigger an alarm. A transport assembly is presented for facilitating transportation of the tank water heater assembly to an installation site and subsequent installation. Finally, a method for installation of a tank water heater assembly is provided.

A hot water supply device (10) is provided with: a first device (for example, a kitchen remote controller (13)) for performing control relating to hot water supply; a second device (for example, a water heater (11)) that is communicably connected to the first device and performs control relating to hot water supply; and a communication unit that is provided in the first device and can be connected to an external communication network. The first device divides data of control software of the second device acquired from an external device (for example, a server (50)) via the communication unit, into a plurality of parts, and transmits to the second device.

Provided is a hot and cold water mixer capable of performing stable temperature control, including a cold water supply pipe, a hot water supply pipe, a mixing pipe, flow rate adjustment valves, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, a setting unit, and a control unit. When the control unit determines that either one of the flow rate adjustment valves cannot increase the flow rate, and also determines, by comparing the target flow rate for the one flow rate adjustment valve with the flow rate of water flowing through the one flow rate adjustment valve, that the target flow rate for the one flow rate adjustment valve is higher, the control unit calculates and updates the target flow rate for the other flow rate adjustment valve and controls the other flow rate adjustment valve based on the updated target flow rate.

A method for controlling a water heater comprising: receiving report information transmitted by a user-wearable device at a predetermined frequency; determining whether a user is coming back according to user location information included in the report information; and if the user is coming back, turning on a return water pump to permit water outputted from a water outlet of the water heater to return to the water heater through a water return port. The present disclosure determines a movement direction and the user location by using report information transmitted by the user-wearable device. If the user is coming back, the return water pump is turned on to permit water to return, so that the user can take a hot bath immediately after arriving home, thereby improving user's experience.