A. O. Smith Corporation
Water Heater With Damper

Abstract:

A water heater system includes a tank having internal capacity no greater than 1 gallon, a water inlet, and a water outlet. A flow of water into the tank through the water inlet and out of the tank through the water outlet is a downstream water flow. An absence of downstream water flow is a standby condition of the water heater. The water heater includes a heating element for heating water in the tank, a first temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of the water flowing into the tank, and a second temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of the water flowing out of the tank. The water heater further includes a damper upstream of the second temperature sensor to reduce fluctuations in the temperature readings of the second temperature sensor to reduce false detection of downstream water flow.