How To Add Bleach To Hot Water Heater

On our latest IoT Podcast episode, nosotros accept a question that Drew left on our IoT Voicemail Hotline. Drew's home uses an electric hot water heater. Drew and his family unit isn't abode that much, and so he oftentimes turns the water heater off and on manually. He wants to know if there's a way to automate his hot water heater.

The answer is yep, but the method tin can vary profoundly. Some hot water heater brands offering modules to add such smarts, for instance. Other heaters, typically several years old, volition need a more generic product that tin work with nigh whatever hot h2o heater. Since we don't know the age and make of Drew's appliance, we'll start with the generic approach then cover some of the brand-specific options.

It turns out that Stacey is using a product that does exactly what Drew wants. She bought the $149 Aquanta Water Heater Controller and it's working well for her. It besides includes a water leak detector, which is a nice bonus.

The Aquanta production can be retrofit on either an electric or natural gas h2o heater, assuasive you to automate the heater. You can self-install it as the procedure looks relatively simple. Or if yous're not the DIY type, you can accept an electrician hook it upward for y'all.

Once installed, the Aquanta continuously reads values from the two included temperature sensors. That information tin be accessed over Wi-Fi to the Aquata mobile app. You don't need a span or hub for this product equally it simply connects to your existing Wi-Fi router. And y'all can access the controller data or conform your hot water heater remotely from the application.

What'south nice nigh the Aquata is that it can intelligently learn your hot water habits over fourth dimension and adjust the heating appropriately. Think of information technology every bit a smart thermostat that has learning capabilities. Y'all also have "Home" and "Away" modes that can be toggled every bit needed if you're not going to be around for any length of time. The app besides provides insights into free energy efficiency and real-time water temperatures as well:

The Aquanta doesn't work with tankless water heaters, and then if that's what you have, consider the PowerX Water Monitor. It costs a bit more at $189 and requires a hub; you can bundle the controller and hub for $239.

For folks with a fairly recent hot water heater, many brands offer an optional smart module. The fundamental deviation here is that unlike the Aquanta, which works with nearly any heater, these are proprietary. You can't buy a Kenmore controller for a Rheem appliance, for example. Bradford White, Kenmore, and Rheem, to name a few, all sell these smart modules for their heaters. Prices will vary based on the brand, but I've seen some of these for as depression equally $60 and they generally all cost less than $100.

If y'all're buying a new hot h2o heater, yous might desire to research if the brand offers a smart controller earlier y'all make your purchase. It'southward possible that the optional controller costs less than the Aquanta. However, if yous later supercede the heater with a different brand, yous'll take to buy a new controller all over again. So it may make sense to go with the more than generic approach from a longevity and compatibility standpoint.

To hear Drew's question, too as our word on the topic in full, melody in beneath to the IoT Podcast: