Water Heater Appliance
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
93 Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, the water heater appliance comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification