Tankless water heater connector

Disclosed herein are connectors for a tankless water heater. The connectors can comprise a flange, an aperture extending through the flange having a first diameter, one or more slots extending through the flange, a connector portion substantially surrounding the aperture and extending outward from the flange away from the tankless water heater. The aperture can correspond to an air inlet extending into the tankless water heater, and the air inlet can have a second diameter that is larger than the aperture. To keep the flange in place, the one or more slots can correspond to one or more fastening holes in the tankless water heater. The one or more slots can be substantially parallel and on opposite sides of the aperture. The connector can be in a secured state when the one or more slots are fastened to the one or more fastening holes.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to tankless water heaters and, in particular, to connectors for tankless water heaters.

BACKGROUND

Recent water heater designs have reduced the need for a large storage tank and heat the water only when heated water is demanded. These on-demand water heaters, also known as “instantaneous” or “tankless” water heaters, typically supply heat only when required, which can reduce the amount of energy lost by the water heating system when the water heater is not in use. These tankless water heaters are commonly used in residential and commercial applications to heat water. Because on-demand water heaters do not require a large storage tank, they can be considerably smaller than traditional water heaters. The reduced size allows on-demand water heaters to be placed closer to where the heated water is needed and further reduces heat loss from water traveling through cold pipes. Because traditional energy sources, like combustible matter and electrical heating elements, are generally known to heat water quicker than a heat pump, existing on-demand water heaters typically use combustible matter or electrical heating elements.

Due to the variety of available tankless water heaters, and their common uses in residential and commercial applications, it is rare to find two tankless water heaters that are alike in terms of size, fitment, capacity, and other parameters. As such, difficulties can arise when replacing, swapping, or maintaining a tankless water heater. Refitting various pipes in a home (e.g., air pipes for venting a tankless water heater) to accommodate a new tankless water heater can be costly and create several plumbing and/or structural issues. If an exhaust vent is needed to accompany a tankless water heater, users must remove and/or drastically alter existing vent lengths and/or install new vents to accommodate a new, dissimilar tankless water heater due to inconsistencies in vent spacing. As such, users of tankless water heaters can become limited in their selections of new tankless water heaters based on the fitment of their current tankless water heater.

What is needed, therefore, are connectors for tankless water heaters that can allow for a seamless connection with existing water plumbing systems of any size, shape, form, and/or fitment. The present disclosure addresses this need as well as other needs that will become apparent upon reading the description below in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to tankless water heaters and, in particular, to connectors for tankless water heaters. The disclosed technology can include a connector for a tankless water heater, the connector comprising a flange, a aperture extending through the flange, one or more slots extending through the flange, and a connector portion substantially surrounding the aperture and extending outward from the flange away from the tankless water heater. The connector portion can be configured to attach to and seal with a vent for the tankless water heater.

The aperture can correspond to an air inlet extending into the tankless water heater. The aperture and the air inlet can have a first and a second diameter, respectively. The first diameter can be less than or equal to the second diameter. That is, the diameter of the connector's aperture can be less than or equal to the diameter of the air inlet.

The flange can have one or more slots extending through the flange. The one or more slots can be substantially parallel and on opposite sides of the aperture. Each of the one or more slots can correspond to one or more fastening holes in the tankless water heater. Each of the one or more slots can have a width to accommodate a fastener to fasten the flange to the tankless water heater. The connector can further comprise a gasket disposed between the flange and the tankless water heater.

The connector can be in an unsecured state when the one or more slots are not fastened to the one or more fastening holes, and the one or more slots can allow the flange to move laterally along the tankless water heater in the unsecured state. The connector can be in a secured state when the one or more slots are fastened to the one or more fastening holes.

The present disclosure can also provide a connector for a tankless water heater, the connector comprising: a cover plate, a connector member, and a bracing panel. The cover plate can have an aperture with a first diameter, the tankless water heater can have an air inlet with a second diameter, and the bracing panel can have a third aperture with a third diameter. The first diameter can be less than or equal to the second diameter, and the third diameter can be substantially similar to the first diameter. The connector member can fit within the aperture and extend between the aperture and the air inlet. The connector can also have an adhesive layer disposed between the cover plate and the tankless water heater. The adhesive layer can have a coefficient of friction to prevent the cover plate from moving when the cover plate contacts the adhesive layer.

The connector member can have a bottom portion and a top portion. The connector member can attach to the bracing panel at the bottom portion and attaches to the cover plate at the top portion. The top portion and the bottom portion of the connector member each have a raised lip to retain the cover plate and the bracing panel, respectively.

The connector can be in an unsecured state when the cover plate is not engaged with the adhesive layer. The connector member can allow the flange to move radially within the air inlet in the unsecured state. The connector can also be in a secured state when the cover plate is pressed against the adhesive layer, thereby preventing the cover plate from moving.

Also disclosed herein are tankless water heaters implementing the same.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure are described in the Detailed Description below and the accompanying figures. Other aspects and features of examples of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the following description of specific examples of the present disclosure in concert with the figures. While features of the present disclosure may be discussed relative to certain examples and figures, all examples of the present disclosure can include one or more of the features discussed herein. Further, while one or more examples may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used with the various examples of the disclosure discussed herein. In similar fashion, while examples may be discussed below as device, system, or method examples, it is to be understood that such examples can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, a problem with current tankless water heaters is that it is rare to find two tankless water heaters that are alike in terms of size, fitment, capacity, and other parameters. As such, difficulties can arise when replacing, swapping, or maintaining a tankless water heater, often times causing the installer to go through costly and/or laborious processes of running new plumbing, venting, pipes, and the like. It would be beneficial, therefore, to provide connectors for tankless water heaters that have additional customizability to accommodate the various existing tankless water heater systems without needing to alter existing piping.

Disclosed herein are adaptive vent connectors for tankless water heaters that can facilitate the respective connections of an existing inlet duct or conduit and an exhaust duct or conduit to the air inlet and exhaust outlet of several different makes and models of water heaters (e.g., tankless water heaters). As described more fully herein, the disclosed vent connectors are maneuverable to compensate for different distances between the air inlet and exhaust outlet of different water heater manufacturers and/or different water models.

Although certain examples of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that other examples and applications are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the disclosure is limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Other examples of the disclosure are capable of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, in describing the disclosed technology, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

It is also to be understood that the mention of one or more method steps does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified.

The components described hereinafter as making up various elements of the disclosure are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components that would perform the same or similar functions as the components described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the disclosure. Such other components not described herein can include, but are not limited to, for example, similar components that are developed after development of the presently disclosed subject matter.

Reference will now be made in detail to examples of the disclosed technology, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever convenient, the same references numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1andFIG. 2show a connector100for a tankless water heater. The connectors can be used to connect an air inlet on the water heater cabinet to an existing air duct installed in a building. The connectors disclosed herein can form an adjustable connection (e.g., airtight seal, substantially airtight seal, non-airtight seal) with the water heater cabinet and, in turn, with an existing air duct. In other words, the connectors can be moved or repositioned or adjusted to accommodate an existing pair of air ducts while maintaining a connection with the water heater. Further, it should be noted that, while the disclosed connectors are described herein as being configured to connect the water heater's air inlet to an inlet duct, it is contemplated that the disclosed connectors can be configured to connect the water heater's exhaust outlet to an exhaust duct.

The connector100can include a flange110having a substantially flat bottom surface, an aperture210extending through the flange110(visible inFIG. 2), one or more slots (e.g., slots120) extending through the flange110, and a connector portion130configured to attach or otherwise connect to a duct or conduit. The aperture210can be substantially circular. Optionally, the aperture210can be located at or near the center of the flange110. The connector portion130can have a generally cylindrical shape (e.g., a cylindrical inner shape) and can substantially surround the aperture210. The connector portion130can extend outwardly from the top of the flange110. The connector portion130can have other shapes such that the connector portion130can connect to a corresponding duct or conduit.

When installed on a tankless water heater, the aperture210can align with and/or correspond to the air inlet (e.g., an aperture in the water heater for receiving air) of the tankless water heater. The diameter of the aperture210can be less than or equal to the diameter of the air inlet. In such a manner, the smaller aperture210can funnel the air inlet into a smaller diameter to connect the tankless water heater to other components via the connector portion130. For instance, the first diameter can funnel fluid in the tankless water heater out of the air inlet and into the connector portion to connect with a vent. Alternatively, the diameter of the aperture210can be greater than or equal to the diameter of the air inlet. The larger aperture210can, for example, help ensure overlap with the air inlet as the connector100is realigned or repositioned. The connector100can also include a gasket or sealing material (e.g., on the bottom surface of the flange110) to form a substantially fluid-tight seal between the connector100and the tankless water heater. The gasket or sealing material can be placed between the flange110and the tankless water heater.

The one or more slots120can be opposite one another in the flange110. The one or more slots120can also be parallel to each other. Such a configuration of the one or more slots120can increase the stability of the connector100and improve the effectiveness of the attachment to a tankless water heater. For similar reasons, the one or more slots120can line up with fastening holes in the tankless water heater. Therefore, each of the one or more slots120can have a width to accommodate a fastener that can connect to the fastening holes through each of the one or more slots120. The fastener can fasten the flange to the tankless water heater. For example, the fasteners can be screws, bolts, rivets, nails, and the like. The distance between opposing slots120and/or the length of a given slot120can be configured to accommodate a large number of makes and/or models of water heater.

It is understood that other configurations of the one or more slots120are possible and contemplated so long as the slots in the flange110line up with fastening holes in the tankless water heater. For example, any number of slots can be present in the flange110, such as one, two (as shown), three, four, five, or more. The slots can also be adjacent to each other rather than on opposite sides of the flange110, and the slots need not be parallel. For example, the one or more slots120can be on adjacent sides of the flange110, or the one or more slots120can be on opposing sides but non-parallel.

When the one or more slots120line up with respective fastening holes in the tankless water heater, the connector100can have an unsecured state and a secured state. In the unsecured state, the one or more slots120are not fastened to the fastening holes (e.g., fasteners are not present or are not tightened down). In such a manner, the one or more slots120can allow the whole connector100to slide laterally along the surface of the tankless water heater. Therefore, a user installing the connector100can leave one or more slots120unfastened or untightened to properly align the connector100before fully fastening the connector100and causing the connector100to transition into the secured state. In the secured state, the one or more slots120can be fastened to the tankless water heater such that lateral movement is prevented.

The connector portion130can be configured to connect to a duct, vent, or piping by overlapping the duct, venting, or piping. Alternatively, the connector portion130can be configured to be overlapped by the duct, vent, or piping. That is, the connector portion130can be have an external diameter that is less than or approximately equal to an internal diameter of the duct, vent, or piping (i.e., the connector portion130can overlap the duct, vent, or piping), or the connector portion130can have an internal diameter that is approximately equal to or greater than an outer diameter of the duct, vent, or piping (i.e., the connector portion130can be overlapped by the duct, vent, or piping). In either case, the connector portion130can be attached to the duct, vent, or piping via a vent clamp or other attachment mechanism.

Also as shown, the connector portion130can have an upper lip on a far end of the connector portion130that is distal the flange110. The upper lip can aid in attaching the connector portion130to existing piping and/or ventilation for the tankless water heater. The upper lip can provide anchor points for hardware to attach. For example, the upper lip can be an attachment point for turn-key clamps, vent clamps, and the like. The upper lip can also include screw threading to attach to a threaded pipe, and/or the upper lip can be sized to provide an interference fit with an external pipe. Alternatively, or additionally, the upper lip can be sized to provide a friction fit and/or interference fit for attaching the connector portion130to external piping.

The connector100can be made from any material, such a metal or a plastic. For example, the connector100can be made from stainless steel or polyvinylchloride (PVC). The flange110can also be cut in a variety of shapes and sizes so long as the aperture210can fit with the corresponding air inlet on the tankless water heater. The gasket can be made from rubber, flexible plastic, or another material that can provide a watertight and/or airtight seal between the connector100and the tankless water heater.

As shown inFIG. 3A, rather than the one or more slots120, the flange110can have any number of fastening holes320and/or fastening slots321. As will be appreciated, more fastening holes320and/or fastening slots321can increase the robustness of attachment to the tankless water heater, while fewer fastening holes can reduce manufacturing costs. As such, the disclosed technology can include more or fewer fastening holes and/or fastening than those expressly shown in the drawings.

Additionally, the aperture210can be offset from the center of the flange110such that the aperture210and the flange110do not share a common central axis (i.e., the center of the aperture210and/or the protruding portion130is/are offset from the center of the flange110). Alternatively, the aperture210can be concentric with the flange110, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. If the aperture210is offset, the connector100can be rotated in various orientations to accommodate the specific location of the air inlet in the tankless water heater, as shown inFIG. 3B. Because the first diameter of the aperture210can be less than or equal to the diameter of the air inlet, the aperture and the air inlet need not be concentric so long as an outer edge of the aperture210is within an outer edge of the air inlet.

As shown inFIG. 3C, the diameter of the aperture210, shown as DV, is less than the diameter of the air inlet, shown as DWH. Therefore, the aperture210has a large clearance to accommodate air inlets of various sizes and positions. The vent can be translated laterally inFIG. 3Csuch that the aperture210can align with existing piping and/or venting while still remaining within the DWH.

As shown inFIG. 4, the connector100can include a slideable or extendable flange portion410attached to the flange110. The extendable flange410can also have two extension slots420A and420B. The flange110can be configured to slide laterally with respect to the extendable flange410. The flanges can be designed such that, when the extendable flange410is laterally extended, there are no exposed gaps beyond the flange itself. For instance, the two extension slots420A and420B can be sized such that a gap cannot form when the extendable flange410is laterally extended.

The two extension slots420A and420B can be opposite one another in the extendable flange410. The two extension slots420A and420B can also be parallel to each other. The two extension slots420A and420B can line up with the fastening holes in the tankless water heater and can have a width to accommodate a fastener that can connect to the fastening holes through each of the two extension slots420A and420B. The fastener can fasten the flange110to the extendable flange410and then further fasten both to the tankless water heater.

In the unsecured state, the one or more slots120are not tightly fastened to the tankless water heater, and the two extension slots420A and420B are not tightly fastened to the flange110(e.g., fasteners are not present or are not tightened down). In such a manner, the two extension slots420A and420B can allow the flange110to slide laterally along the extendable flange410. Therefore, a user installing the connector100can attach the extendable flange410(via the two extension slots420A and420B) while leaving the one or more slots120unfastened to properly align the connector100before fastening the connector100in the secured state. In the secured state, the one or more slots120can be fastened to the tankless water heater and to the extendable flange410such that lateral movement is prevented.

FIGS. 5A-5Dillustrate another connector500for a tankless water heater. The connector500can have a cover plate510, a connector member520, and a bracing panel530. The cover plate510can have a generally frustoconical shape or any other shape such that a lower hole or aperture512(i.e., connected to cover an air inlet of a water heater) of the cover plate510is larger than an upper hole or aperture514(i.e., configured to connect to the connector member520) of the cover plate510. The lower hole512can have a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the air inlet such that the cover plate510can be maneuvered side-to-side and forward-to-back while still covering or substantially covering the air inlet.

The connector member520can have an external diameter that is less than or approximately equal to the internal diameter of the upper hole514of the cover plate510such that the connector member520can fit within the upper hole514and can extend through the cover plate and to or into the air inlet. The connector member520can also have a top portion522and a bottom portion524. The top portion522and the bottom portion524can correspond to the upper hole514and the air inlet, respectively. The top portion522can include a raised lip to aid in the attachment the cover plate510and/or a duct, vent, or pipe, such as described above. The bottom portion can include a step528that includes a step surface extending substantially radially outward. As described more fully herein, the step528can be configured to secure the connector member520to the bracing panel530and thereby secure the connector500to the water heater. To that end, the connector member520can have a lower portion diameter that is less than a step diameter of the step528. As shown, the step528can include a sloped wall that slopes radially inwardly below the step surface. The connector member520can also include one or more vertical notches526.

The bracing panel530can include an aperture532having a diameter substantially similar to the lower portion diameter of the connector member520and is less than the step diameter of the notch. The bracing panel530can be configured to be positioned within the tankless water heater and abut an interior surface of the tankless water heater proximate the air inlet. In such a manner, the bracing panel530and the cover plate510can sandwich a wall of the tankless water heater to secure the connector500to the water heater. The connector member520can extend from an attachment point to a duct, vent, or pipe, through the upper and lower holes of the cover plate510, through the air inlet aperture of the water heater, and through the aperture532of the bracing panel530. The bottom portion524of the connector member520can also attach to the bracing panel530via the notch. With the bracing panel530located within the water heater at the air inlet, the connector member520(e.g., with the cover plate530already attached) can be inserted into the air inlet and into the aperture532of the bracing panel530. As the lower portion524of the connector member520is inserted, the sloped surface of the step528comes into contact with the aperture532of the bracing panel530, and the difference in diameters, along with the one or more vertical notches526, permits the lower portion of the connector member520to bend or compress inwardly such that the step528can pass through the aperture532of the bracing panel530. Once the step528has passed through the aperture532of the bracing panel530, the lower portion of the connector member can return to its original shape and dimension such that the step surface of the connector member's520step can abut a lower surface of the bracing panel530proximate the aperture532, thereby retaining the connector member520with respect to the bracing panel530and securing the connector510with respect to the water heater.

As shown most clearly inFIG. 5D, when the connector member520is attached to the bracing panel530, the connector500can sandwich the external wall of the water heater (e.g., the exterior wall of the top portion of the water heater). That is, when the step528of the connector member520is abutting the lower surface of the bracing panel530, the top surface of the bracing panel530can abut the interior surface of the water heater panel590(e.g., the top of the water heater). In so doing, the connector member520and the bracing panel530can connect the connector500to the water heater panel590. Optionally, the connector member520can include an upper step523configured to abut a top surface of the cover plate510. The cover plate510, connector member520, and/or bracing panel530can be sized such that, when the connector500is attached to the water heater panel590, the cover plate's510top surface abuts the upper step523, which can help maintain a connection of the cover plate's510bottom surface to the exterior of the water heater panel590. Alternatively or in addition, the bracing panel530can comprise and/or be made from a compressible material (e.g., a plastic, rubber, etc.) that can compress and/or deform such that the connector500can be attached to different water heater panels590of varying thicknesses.

As shown inFIG. 5E, the connector500can optionally include a hybrid connector member540that is shaped and dimensioned to be a single component that can insert into the aperture of water heater panel590and the aperture532of the bracing member530attach to the bracing member530(similar to the connector member520) and can also cover the aperture of the water heater panel590(similar to the cover plate510).

The connector500can also include a gasket or other seal to form a watertight and/or airtight seal (or substantially watertight and/or airtight steal) with the tankless water heater. The gasket can be placed between the cover plate510and the tankless water heater. Alternatively, or additionally, the connector500can have an adhesive layer disposed between the cover plate510and the tankless water heater (e.g., on an underside of the cover plate510). The adhesive layer can include an adhesive to fasten the cover plate510to a surface of the tankless water heater. The adhesive layer could also include a material to increase the coefficient of friction of the cover plate510to prevent the cover plate510from moving. The gasket and/or adhesive layer can also serve to compress and/or expand during or after attachment of the connector member520to the bracing panel530, such that the gasket and/or adhesive can act as a buffer to compensate for differences in wall thickness of various water heater makes and/or models.

The connector500can have an unsecured state and a secured state. In the secured state, the adhesive layer can prevent the cover plate510from moving. In the unsecured state, however, when the cover plate510is not engaged with the adhesive layer, the connector500can move radially until the connector member520abuts the perimeter of the air inlet in the tankless water heater. In such a manner, the connector500can be positioned in a variety of orientations within the air inlet of the tankless water heater to properly align with existing piping and/or ventilation. Alternatively, the connector500can be initially attached to, and positioned on, a water heater without adhesive, and subsequent to placing the connector500in the desired location and/or position, the connector500can be secured to the water heater such as by taping or otherwise adhering the cover plate510to the exterior of the water heater.

FIG. 6Ais a schematic view of a tankless water heater600that includes a cabinet601, a fluid inlet602, a fluid outlet604, a flow sensor606, a temperature sensor (e.g., one or both of temperature sensors608A,608B), a combustion chamber620having a fuel inlet622, an air inlet624connectable to an air inlet vent625, and an exhaust conduit626connectable to an exhaust vent627, and a controller630. It is understood thatFIG. 6is provided to illustrate a tankless water heater to be used with the connectors described herein and that the various components of the tankless water heater600can be arranged in various orders, locations, and configurations.

As shown,FIG. 6Adepicts a combustion chamber620, which can be used to facilitate a heat exchange between hot combustion gases and unheated water. The combustion chamber620can have a fuel inlet622and an air inlet624to facilitate a combustion reaction. Spent combustion gases can be expelled via the exhaust conduit626once they have cooled.

The air inlet624and/or the exhaust conduit626can connect the tankless water heater to existing piping through any of the connectors described herein. In fact, the connectors described herein can ensure a smooth connection between the tankless water heater600and any existing air circulation system. As such, when the combustion chamber620(and corresponding components) is dissimilar or a different design than the existing piping, the connectors described herein can provide for a dynamic connection to a variety of fitments.

Referring toFIG. 6B, a schematic illustrating the versatility of the disclosed technology is provided. As shown, the disclosed technology (e.g., any one of the connectors described herein), which is indicated as connector100,500, can accommodate the installation of different makes and models of water heaters without the need for rerouting an air intake vent625or an exhaust vent627. For example, as shown the existing air intake vent625and exhaust vent627can have a vent distance Dvbetween them, a first water heater can have a first distance DWH1between its air inlet624and exhaust conduit626, and a second water heater can have a second distance DWH2between its air inlet624and exhaust conduit626. Nonetheless, either the first water heater or the second water heater can be connected to the existing air intake vent625and exhaust vent627without rerouting, replacement, or other modifications to the air intake vent625and exhaust vent627. That is, the connector100,500can accommodate both the different first distance DWH1and second distance DWH2, while the vent distance DVremains the same.

Although commonly referred to as tankless water heaters, such water heaters often use some form of small storage tank in which to heat the water. The low fluid capacity heating chamber can be contained within the cabinet601can be used as a temporary storage location for the combustion chamber620to add heat to the water. The low fluid capacity heating chamber can be sized for various applications. For example, the low fluid capacity heating chamber can have a capacity of fifteen gallons or less for a typical usage application. As another example, the low fluid capacity heating chamber can be sized between one and two gallons for use with a bathroom sink in a user's home, as based on the average user's demand for hot water. Depending on the application, the low fluid capacity heating chamber can have a capacity of 0.25 gallons, 0.5 gallons, 1 gallon, 1.5 gallons, 2, gallons, 2.5 gallons, 3 gallons, 3.5 gallons, 4 gallons, 4.5 gallons, 5 gallons, or any other appropriate size to fit the particular application. For example, the low fluid capacity heating chamber can have a capacity of ten gallons, fifteen gallons, or more.

The low fluid capacity heating chamber can be sized to meet Department of Energy (DOE) conservation standards for consumer water heaters. For example, the low fluid capacity heating chamber can be less than 2 gallons to meet DOE standards for electric instantaneous water heaters found in 10 C.F.R. 430.32(d). The low fluid capacity heating chamber can be made of any suitable material for storing and heating water, including copper, carbon steel, stainless steel, ceramics, polymers, composites, or any other appropriate material.

Furthermore, the low fluid capacity heating chamber can be treated or lined with a coating to prevent corrosion and leakage. An appropriate treating or coating will be capable of withstanding the demand temperature of the heated water and pressure of the system and can include, as non-limiting examples, glass enameling, galvanizing, thermosetting resin-bonded lining materials, thermoplastic coating materials, cement coating, or any other appropriate treating or coating for the application. Optionally, the low fluid capacity heating chamber can be insulated to retain heat. For example, the low fluid capacity heating chamber can also be insulated using fiberglass, aluminum foil, organic material, or any other appropriate insulation material.

The tankless water heater600can include various sensing devices that collect data about the water in the system.FIG. 6shows a flow sensor606and temperature sensors608A,608B. The flow sensor606is shown as being installed just downstream of the fluid inlet602but can be installed in alternative locations that are in fluid communication with the low fluid capacity heating chamber601. For example, the flow sensor606can be installed just downstream of the fluid inlet, inside the low fluid capacity heating chamber, downstream of the low fluid capacity heating chamber, or even upstream of the fluid inlet602or downstream of the fluid outlet604so long as the flow sensor606is able to detect a positive flow (fluid flowing through the low fluid capacity heating chamber in the direction from the fluid inlet602and toward the fluid outlet604) of a fluid flowing into the low fluid capacity heating chamber.

Similar to the flow sensor606, the temperature sensor(s)608A,608B can be installed in any appropriate location that allows the temperature sensor(s)608A,608B to detect temperature data of fluid at the installed location of the temperature sensor(s)608A,608B. Although two temperature sensors608A and608B are shown inFIG. 6, the tankless water heater600can include only a single temperature sensor. For example, the tankless water heater600can include only temperature sensor608A to measure the temperature of the fluid within the low fluid capacity heating chamber, or the tankless water heater600can include only temperature sensor608B to measure the temperature of the fluid exiting the low fluid capacity heating chamber.

The temperature sensor(s)608A,608B can be any type of sensor capable of measuring temperature of a fluid and providing temperature data indicative of the fluid temperature to the controller630. For example, the temperature sensor(s)608A,608B can be thermocouples, resistor temperature detectors, thermistors, infrared sensors, semiconductors, or any other type of sensors which would be appropriate for a given use or application. All temperature sensors of the system can be the same type of temperature sensor, or the system can include different types of temperature sensors. For example, temperature sensor608A can be a thermocouple and temperature sensor608B can be a thermistor. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the type, location, and number of temperature sensors can vary depending on the application.

While various connectors (e.g., connectors100,500) are described in relation to a combustion-based gas water heater, it is contemplated that, additionally or alternatively, the connectors can be used with other types of tankless water heaters, such as certain heat pump water heaters.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with a plurality of example aspects, as illustrated in the various figures and discussed above, it is understood that other similar aspects can be used, or modifications and additions can be made to the described aspects for performing the same function of the present disclosure without deviating therefrom. For example, in various aspects of the disclosure, methods and compositions were described according to aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter. However, other equivalent methods or composition to these described aspects are also contemplated by the teachings herein. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be limited to any single aspect, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims