Patent ID: 7593789

Claim:
A method for measuring a sufficiency of water flow through a heating module of a bathing unit, the heating module having a body defining a passage through which water can flow and a heating device for heating the water that flows through the body, the heating device being adapted for acquiring a heating state and a non-hearing state, the method comprising: a) obtaining a first temperature measurement associated with a thermal element mounted in thermally conductive communication with water flowing through the body of said heating module, the first temperature measurement being distinct from a water temperature associated to the water that flows through the body of the heating module; b) activating the thermal element to cause it to acquire a certain temperature condition for a predetermined time interval; c) deactivating the thermal element following the predetermined time interval; d) obtaining a subsequent temperature measurement associated with the thermal element, the subsequent temperature measurement: i) being taken a certain time interval after deactivating the thermal element; and ii) being distinct from a water temperature associated to the water that flows through the body of the heating module: e) processing the first temperature measurement and the subsequent temperature measurement to derive information associated to the sufficiency of water flow through the heating module; f) causing the device to acquire a selected one of the heating state and the non-heating state based at least in part on the information associated to the sufficiency of water flow derived in step e).