METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A WATER HEATER APPLIANCE

• US 20140169773A1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Beyerle, Michael Thomas, Bultman, Robert Marten, Caley, Myles, Miller, Jeremy Michael, Zimmer, Thomas Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,702,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 392/441
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/0073 Arrangements for preventing the occurrence or proliferation of microorganisms in the water
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/14 Cleaning; Sterilising; Preventing contamination by bacteria or microorganisms, e.g. by replacing fluid in tanks or conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/281 Input from user
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/37 of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/429 for selecting operation modes
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/45 remotely accessible
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2021 Storage heaters
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time

Abstract

A method and system for operating a water heater appliance are provided. The method and system include initiating a vacation mode of the water heater appliance. An operating temperature of the water heater appliance is reduced from a normal operating temperature to a vacation operating temperature in the vacation mode of the water heater appliance. The method and system also include sanitizing the water heater appliance by raising the operating temperature of the water heater appliance from the vacation operating temperature to a sanitization operating temperature.

Claims

1. A method for operating a water heater appliance, comprising:

initiating a vacation mode of the water heater appliance in which an operating temperature of the water heater appliance is reduced from a normal operating temperature to a vacation operating temperature;

maintaining the water heater appliance in the vacation mode at the vacation operating temperature for a predetermined time period;

starting a sanitization mode of the water heater appliance after the predetermined time period has elapsed, the operating temperature of the water heater appliance rising from the vacation operating temperature to a sanitization operating temperature in the sanitation mode;

keeping the water heater appliance in the sanitization mode at the sanitization operating temperature for a period of time; and

returning the water heater appliance to the vacation mode after the period of time has elapsed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacation operating temperature is between about forty degrees Fahrenheit and about sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sanitization operating temperature is greater than about one-hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is less than about fourteen days.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time is greater than about one hour.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the water heater appliance in the vacation mode at the vacation operating temperature for an additional predetermined time period after said step of returning;

starting an additional sanitization mode of the water heater appliance after the additional predetermined time period has elapsed;

keeping the water heater appliance in the additional sanitization mode at the sanitization operating temperature for an additional period of time; and

restoring the water heater appliance to the vacation mode after the additional period of time has elapsed.

7. A method for operating a water heater appliance, comprising:

initiating a vacation mode of the water heater appliance in which an operating temperature of the water heater appliance is reduced from a normal operating temperature to a vacation operating temperature;

determining a vacation mode duration;

calculating a sanitization schedule for the water heater appliance based at least in part on the vacation mode duration and a sanitization time interval, the sanitization schedule having at least one sanitization operation;

starting the sanitization operation of the water heater appliance based upon the sanitization schedule, the operating temperature of the water heater appliance rising from the vacation operating temperature to a sanitization operating temperature during the at least one sanitation operation; and

returning the water heater appliance to the vacation mode after completion of each sanitation operation of the at least one sanitization operation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the vacation operating temperature is between about forty degrees Fahrenheit and about sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sanitization operating temperature is greater than about one-hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the sanitization time interval is less than about fourteen days.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one sanitization operation includes a plurality of sanitation operations, sanitation operations of the plurality of sanitation operations being less than about fourteen days apart in the sanitization schedule.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the vacation mode duration is greater than about fourteen days.

13. A system for operating a water heater appliance, comprising:

a heating element positioned within the water heater appliance;

a user input; and

a controller in communication with said heating element and said user input, said controller configured for;

receiving a vacation mode initiation signal from said user input;

initiating a vacation mode of the water heater appliance based upon the vacation mode initiation signal, an operating temperature of the water heater appliance being reduced from a normal operating temperature to a vacation operating temperature in the vacation mode;

activating said heating element after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after said step of initiating, said heating element raising the operating temperature of the water heater appliance from the vacation operating temperature to a sanitization operating temperature during said step of activating; and

adjusting said heating element in order to return the operating temperature of the water heater appliance from the sanitization operating temperature to the vacation operating temperature.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said user input includes at least one of a control panel mounted to the water heater appliance and a mobile device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller is positioned within the water heater appliance.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller is positioned away from the water heater appliance and communicates with the water heater appliance over a wireless connection.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller is further configured for receiving a vacation mode termination signal from said user input and starting a normal operating mode of the water heater appliance based upon the vacation mode termination signal, the operating temperature of the water heater appliance being the normal operating temperature in the normal operating mode.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the vacation operating temperature is between about forty degrees Fahrenheit and about sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the sanitization operating temperature is greater than about one-hundred and twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about fourteen days.