Combination space and hot water heater

Abstract

A combination space and water heating apparatus includes a frame enclosing a water heating assembly and an air heating assembly. The water heating assembly is positioned in a top front portion of the frame and supplies hot water in response to a hot water demand. The water heating assembly includes inlet and outlet water connections through a top portion of the water heating assembly. The air heating assembly is positioned in a rear and bottom portion of the frame and supplies heated air in response to a space heating demand. Maintenance access to the air heating assembly is solely through a front section of the bottom portion of the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination space and water heating apparatus comprising:
 a frame enclosing a water heating assembly and an air heating assembly;   the water heating assembly positioned in a top front portion of the frame, the water heating assembly supplying hot water in response to a hot water demand, the water heating assembly including inlet and outlet water connections through a top portion of the water heating assembly; and   the air heating assembly positioned in a rear and bottom portion of the frame, the air heating assembly supplying heated air in response to a space heating demand, maintenance access to the air heating assembly solely through a front section of the bottom portion of the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a controller assembly coupled to the water heating assembly and to the air heating assembly, the controller assembly producing the hot water demand and the space heating demand; 
 wherein the space heating demand is delayed when the hot water demand is active. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a connection for an inlet for recirculated water through the top portion of the water heating assembly, the controller assembly controlling the mixing of the recirculated water within the water heating assembly. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an air circulation blower of the air heating assembly, the air circulation blower mounted on an extendable mount of the frame and accessible through a bottom portion of the front section of the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein water output from the water heating assembly is coupled to the air heating assembly through a U-trap, the U-trap preventing natural heat flow from the water heating assembly into the air heating assembly when the space heating demand is inactive. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 water piping connections positioned on a top surface of the frame, the water piping connections allowing for input and output of water into the water heating assembly. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a water heater component of the water heating assembly, and a water to air heat exchange component of the air heating assembly, the water heater component mounted on a first extendable mount of the frame and accessible through the front section of the frame, the air heat exchange component mounted on a second extendable mount of the frame and accessible through the front section of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the water heating assembly is a tankless water heater. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the water heating assembly is a boiler. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling the heating of air and water in a combination apparatus, the method comprising:
 detecting a space heating demand of an air heating assembly of the apparatus;   enabling the delay of the air heating assembly when the air heating assembly was enabled when detecting a hot water demand of a water heating assembly of the apparatus; and   enabling the air heating assembly after a delay when the air heating assembly was disabled when detecting the hot water demand.