Water heaters with indication systems configured to provide one or more alerts to users

Abstract

A water heating system is disclosed. The water heating system may include a sensor configured to detect an anomaly in the water heating system, and a timer configured to detect hot water usage time duration. The water heating system may further include a controller configured to obtain inputs from the sensor and the hot water usage time duration from the timer. The controller may be further configured to determine that a predetermined condition is met based on the inputs or the hot water usage time duration. Responsive to a determination that the predetermined condition is met, the controller may be configured to modify a water flow or an output water temperature for a predefined time duration to provide an alert signal to a user.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heating system comprising:
 a detection unit configured to detect an anomaly in the water heating system or a hot water usage time duration; and   a controller communicatively coupled to the detection unit, wherein the controller is configured to:
 obtain inputs from the detection unit; 
 determine that a predetermined condition is met based on the inputs; and 
 modify, based on the predetermined condition being met, a water flow and/or an output water temperature for a predefined time duration to provide an alert signal to a user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The water heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit is a sensor or a timer. 
     
     
         3 . The water heating system of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined condition is met when the sensor detects the anomaly. 
     
     
         4 . The water heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is met when the hot water usage time duration exceeds a first threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The water heating system of  claim 1  further comprising a mixing valve configured to control a mixture of cold water and hot water from the water heating system. 
     
     
         6 . The water heating system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to modify the output water temperature by controlling the mixing valve. 
     
     
         7 . The water heating system of  claim 1  further comprising a heating element configured to control heating of water in the water heating system. 
     
     
         8 . The water heating system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to modify the output water temperature by controlling the heating element. 
     
     
         9 . The water heating system of  claim 1  further comprising a shut-off valve configured to control water flow out of the water heating system. 
     
     
         10 . The water heating system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to modify the water flow by controlling the shut-off valve. 
     
     
         11 . The water heating system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to modify the water flow by providing pulsating water output. 
     
     
         12 . The water heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the water heating system is a tankless water heater. 
     
     
         13 . The water heating system of  claim 2  further comprising a water tank to store water, wherein the sensor is a leak sensor configured to detect leakage in the water tank. 
     
     
         14 . A water heating method comprising:
 obtaining, by a controller, inputs from a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect an anomaly in a water heating system;   determining, by the controller and based on the inputs, that a predetermined condition is met; and   modifying, by the controller and based on the predetermined condition being met, a water flow or an output water temperature for a predefined time duration to provide an alert signal to a user.   
     
     
         15 . The water heating method of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined condition is met when the sensor detects the anomaly. 
     
     
         16 . The water heating method of  claim 14 , wherein modifying the output water temperature comprises controlling a mixing valve configured to control a mixture of cold water and hot water from the water heating system. 
     
     
         17 . The water heating method of  claim 14 , wherein modifying the output water temperature comprises controlling a heating source element configured to control heating of water in the water heating system. 
     
     
         18 . The water heating method of  claim 14 , wherein modifying the water flow comprises controlling a shut-off valve configured to control water flow out of the water heating system. 
     
     
         19 . A water heating method comprising:
 obtaining, by a controller, a hot water usage time duration from a timer, wherein the timer is configured to detect the hot water usage time duration;   determining, by the controller and based on the hot water usage time duration, that a predetermined condition is met; and   modifying, by the controller and based on the predetermined condition being met, a water flow or an output water temperature for a predefined time duration to provide an alert signal to a user.   
     
     
         20 . The water heating method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined condition is met when the hot water usage time duration exceeds a first threshold.