Load based hot water temperature control

A method of a controller of a water heater disposed in a hot water delivery system that includes a load identification sensor, a mixing valve coupled to an output of the water heater, a temperature sensor disposed at an output of the mixing valve, and a first load that is coupled to the output of the mixing valve, the method comprising:

• receiving monitoring data from the load identification sensor that is configured to detect an event associated with the first load, the event being associated with a demand for hot water;
• determining an occurrence of the event associated with the first load based on identifying a fingerprint associated with the event in the monitoring data, wherein the fingerprint uniquely identifies the event associated with the first load;
• determining a first load set point temperature associated with the first load, wherein the first load set point temperature is representative of a maximum temperature of the hot water to be delivered to the first load, wherein the first load set point temperature is set by an end user;
• and
• controlling, based on first feedback from the temperature sensor, the mixing valve to adjust a maximum temperature of the hot water that is delivered from the water heater to the first load from a water heater set point temperature at which the hot water is maintained in the water heater to the first load set point temperature;
• determining that a second load is switched on while hot water is being directed to the first load, wherein the hot water is directed to the second load at a second load set point temperature;
• determining that the first load set point is different than the second load set point;
• and
• controlling, based on second feedback from the temperature sensor, the determination that the second load is switched on, and the determination that the first load set point is different than the second load set point, the mixing valve to modify the maximum temperature of the hot water that is delivered from the water heater to a value between the first load set point temperature and the second load set point temperature.

A hot water delivery system comprising:

• a load identification sensor installed in one of a hot water distribution pipe and a cold water distribution pipe of a water supply system, the hot water distribution pipe being configured to deliver hot water to a load and the cold water distribution pipe being configured to deliver cold water to the load;
• a mixing valve comprising a first inlet that is coupled to an outlet of a water heater, a second inlet that is coupled to the cold water distribution pipe, and a valve outlet that is coupled to the hot water distribution pipe;
• a temperature sensor that is coupled to the hot water distribution pipe at the valve outlet of the mixing valve;
• and
• a controller associated with the water heater and configured to:
• determine, based on monitoring data received from the load identification sensor, that the load is switched on in association with a demand for the hot water;
• responsive to determining that the load is switched on, determine a first load set point temperature associated with the load,
• wherein the first load set point temperature is representative of a maximum temperature of the hot water that is to be delivered to the load, the first load set point temperature being set by an end user;
• determine whether the water heater is providing hot water to another load that is coupled thereto via the hot water distribution pipe, the another load having been switched on prior to the load and having a second load set point temperature associated therewith,
• wherein the second load set point temperature is representative of a maximum temperature of the hot water that is to be delivered to the another load, the second load set point temperature being different from the first load set point temperature at which the hot water is maintained at the water heater;
• responsive to determining that the another load is switched on, determine the second load set point temperature associated with the another load;
• determine whether the second load set point temperature is different from the first load set point temperature;
• provide a notification to a user device of a user associated with the load or the another load that the second load set point temperature is different from the first load set point temperature;
• receive an approval from the user device to modify the maximum temperature of the hot water that is being delivered from the water heater to the load and the another load to a value between the first load set point temperature and the second load set point temperature;
• and
• responsive to determining the second load set point temperature is different from the first load set point temperature and receiving the approval, control, based on feedback from the temperature sensor, the mixing valve to modify the maximum temperature of the hot water that is being delivered from the water heater to the load and the another load to the value.