Water Heater Appliance

Abstract

A heat pump water heater and a method for servicing the heat pump water heater are provided. The heat pump water heater includes an evaporator, a condensate collection tray, and a condensate pump for discharging collected condensate. Notably, the operating time of the condensate pump correlates to the amount of wet operation of heat pump water heater, and increased wet operation may correlate to corrosion and wear on the heat pump water heater. Therefore, an exemplary method contemplates determining an operating time of the condensate pump and, based on the operating time, determining and communicating a recommended service schedule. In addition, an operating parameter of the heat pump water heater may be adjusted, such as switching to electric heating when the operating time exceeds a predetermined threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for servicing a heat pump water heater, the heat pump water heater comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, the method comprising:
 determining an operating time of a condensate pump of the heat pump water heater, the condensate pump being in fluid communication with a condensate collection tray for discharging condensate collected from the evaporator of the heat pump water heater;   determining, based on the operating time of the condensate pump, a recommended service schedule for the heat pump water heater; and   communicating the recommended service schedule.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the recommended service schedule comprises recommending a maintenance procedure when the operating time exceeds a predetermined time threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined time threshold is 100 hours of pump operation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined time threshold is 500 hours of pump operation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the recommended service schedule comprises transmitting a service signal using a display on the heat pump water heater. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the recommended service schedule comprises transmitting diagnostic information or a recommended maintenance procedure over an interne connection. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the recommended service schedule comprises scheduling a maintenance visit from a maintenance service provider. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting an operating parameter of the heat pump water heater when the operating time exceeds a predetermined time threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein adjusting the operating parameter of the heat pump water heater comprises switching off the compressor and operating an electric heating element. 
     
     
         10 . A water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, the water heater appliance comprising:
 an evaporator being configured to absorb heat and produce condensate;   a condensate collection tray disposed under the evaporator along the vertical direction and being configured for collecting the condensate from the evaporator;   a condensate pump in fluid communication with the condensate collection tray, the condensate pump being configured for discharging the condensate from the condensate collection tray through a condensate discharge line; and   a controller configured for:
 determining an operating time of the condensate pump; 
 determining, based on the operating time, a recommended service schedule for the heat pump water heater; and 
 communicating the recommended service schedule. 
   
     
     
         11 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein determining the recommended service schedule comprises recommending a maintenance procedure when the operating time exceeds a predetermined time threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined time threshold is 500 hours of pump operation. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein communicating the recommended service schedule comprises transmitting a service signal using a display on the heat pump water heater. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein communicating the recommended service schedule comprises transmitting diagnostic information or a recommended maintenance procedure over an internet connection. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , wherein communicating the recommended service schedule comprises scheduling a maintenance visit from a maintenance service provider. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising adjusting an operating parameter of the heat pump water heater. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater appliance of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting the operating parameter of the heat pump water heater comprises switching off a compressor of the heat pump water heater and operating an electric heating element. 
     
     
         18 . A method for servicing a heat pump water heater, the heat pump water heater comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, the method comprising:
 determining a pump operating value of a condensate pump of the heat pump water heater, the condensate pump being in fluid communication with a condensate collection tray for discharging condensate collected from the evaporator of the heat pump water heater;   determining, based on the pump operating value of the condensate pump, a recommended service schedule for the heat pump water heater; and   communicating the recommended service schedule.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pump operating value is a cumulative operating time of the condensate pump over a lifetime of the condensate pump. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pump operating value is a cumulative cycle count of wet/dry cycles over a lifetime of the condensate pump.