Water heater usage profiling utilizing energy meter and attachable sensors

A controller system for use in a storage-style water heater, the controller system comprising:

• first and second sensors respectively attached to an inlet water pipe and a temperature and pressure (T&P) valve of the storage-style water heater, wherein the first and second sensors are configured to respectively measure and transmit inlet water pipe temperature measurements of the inlet water pipe and heated water temperature measurements of the T&P valve, respectively;
• an energy meter configured to measure energy usage of the storage-style water heater;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive and monitor the inlet water pipe temperature measurements and the heated water temperature measurements;
• detect an increase in the inlet water pipe temperature measurements;
• determine a slope of the increase in the inlet water pipe temperature measurements, wherein when the slope is determined to exceed a threshold value, the processor is configured to identify a heating event and determine a duration of the heating event;
• and
• derive, in real time, an amount of energy used for heating water based on the duration of the heating event.

A method of determining, in real time, a volume of used heated water in a storage-style water heater, wherein the storage-style water heater is connected to an inlet water pipe and a temperature and pressure (T&P) valve, the method comprising:

• determining a thermal energy of the used heated water outputted by the storage-style water heater;
• determining first and second temperature measurements of the inlet water pipe and the T&P valve, respectively;
• detecting a decrease in the first temperature measurement;
• determining a slope of the decrease in the first temperature measurement, wherein when the slope is determined to exceed a threshold value, the method further comprises identifying a heated water draw event and determining a duration of the heated water draw event;
• and
• deriving, in real time, the volume of the used heated water and a heated water flow rate based on the duration of the heated water draw event.