Water heater monitoring

Abstract

In one aspect, a first device includes a processor and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to receive input from a water heater meter that monitors a water heater and provide an output comprising information pertaining to a time estimate related to the provisioning of heated water based on the input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A first device, comprising:
 a processor; and   storage accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable by the processor to:   receive input from a water healer meter that monitors a water heater; and   based on the input, provide an output comprising information pertaining to a time estimate related to the provisioning of heated water.   
     
     
         2 . The first device of  claim 1 , wherein the time estimate is one or more of: an estimated amount of time remaining before the water heater is no longer able provide hot water based at least on a consumption rate, an estimated time at which the water heater will no longer be able provide hot water based on at least a consumption rate, an estimated amount of time to pass before the water heater is able to provide hot water, and an estimated time at which the water heater will be able to provide hot water. 
     
     
         3 . The first device of  claim 1 , wherein the water healer meter monitors an amount of water associated with the water heater. 
     
     
         4 . The first device of  claim 1 , wherein the water heater meter monitors a temperature of water associated with the water heater. 
     
     
         5 . The first device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
 provide the output at the first device.   
     
     
         6 . The first device of  claim 5 , comprising a display accessible to the processor, and wherein the output is provided on the display. 
     
     
         7 . The first device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
 provide the output to a second device different from the first device.   
     
     
         8 . The first device of  claim 7 , wherein the second device is a device at which an activity is to be engaged in using water from the water heater. 
     
     
         9 . The first device of  claim 1 , wherein the output comprises information pertaining to one or more of: an amount of water in the water heater, and a temperature of water in the water heater. 
     
     
         10 . The first device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
 raise the temperature of water in the water heater to accelerate a time at which a determined amount hot water from the water heater will be available.   
     
     
         11 . The first device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
 store information pertaining to at least one use, by a particular user for a particular activity, of water from the water heater.   
     
     
         12 . The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
 estimate, based on the stored information and based on input from the water heater meter, whether the water heater currently contains enough water for the particular user to engage in the particular activity using water from the water heater, and   provide the output based on the estimation.   
     
     
         13 . The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the information comprises data pertaining to one or more of:
 an identity of the particular user, the activity, an amount water from the water heater that was consumed to engage at least once in the predefined activity, a duration that water from the water heater was consumed to engage at least once in the predefined activity.   
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 receiving input from a water heater meter that monitors a water heater; and   based on the input, presenting an output pertaining to a time at which water from the water heater will be ready for use to engage in a particular activity.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the output comprises information pertaining to an amount of water in the water heater. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the output comprises information pertaining to a temperature of water in the water heater. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the time is a current time, and wherein the output indicates that water from the water heater is ready for use to engage in the particular activity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the output comprises information pertaining to a current availability of hot water from the water heater. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising:
 presenting the output at least in part by one or more of: actuating a light emitting diode (LED), providing an audio indication, and providing a haptic indication.   
     
     
         20 . A water heating device, comprising:
 a water heater;   a water tank that holds water heated by the water heater;   a processor;   a network transceiver accessible to the processor;   a sensor accessible to the processor and that monitors water in the water tank; and   storage bearing instructions executable by the processor to:   receive input from the sensor; and   based on the input, provide data to another device using the network transceiver, the data pertaining to whether the water heating device holds enough hot water to supply hot water throughout performance of a particular activity.   
     
     
         21 . The water heating device of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
 during supply of water tor the particular activity, increase a temperature of water in the water heating device responsive to a determination that, based on a current rate of consumption, there will not be enough hot water to supply through completion of the particular activity.   
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 receiving input from a water heater meter that monitors a water heater; and   based on the input, providing an output comprising information pertaining to a time estimate related to the provisioning of heated water.