Providing domestic hot water from conventional residential split system heat pumps

A set of valves with a logic device controller, in an environmental control system of the type having a split-system electrically-powered heat pump with a compressor, an outdoor coil, an outdoor fan, an indoor coil and an indoor fan associated with ducting for living space heating and cooling, a living space thermostat, a hot water tank, a tank coil in thermal communication with the hot water tank, and a tank thermostat, the set of valves and the logic device controller directing refrigerant through selected coils and interconnected piping, comprising:

• a valve matrix having first, second, and third reversing valves in selected energized and de-energized states that control direction of refrigerant flow through connected refrigerant piping,
• all three reversing valves having an input side coupled to receive compressed hot refrigerant gas from the compressor and having first and second ports,
• the first port of the first reversing valve coupled to the outdoor coil,
• the first port of the second reversing valve coupled to the indoor coil, and
• the first port of the third reversing valve coupled to the tank coil,
• all three reversing valves having respective second ports coupled in common to a suction port of the compressor,
• an energized state of a reversing valve coupling the input side to the first port of that reversing valve and a de-energized state of a reversing valve coupling the first port to the second port of that reversing valve;
• a switch matrix having first, second, and third solenoid valves in selected open and closed states together with associated check valves coupled in parallel with the solenoid valves to control ability of refrigerant flow through connected refrigerant piping,
• the three solenoid valves and likewise their associated check valves coupled at one end to a common section of the interconnected piping,
• the respective check valves only permitting refrigerant flow in a direction toward the common section,
• the first solenoid valve and the first solenoid valve associated check valve coupled at a second end to the outdoor coil,
• the second solenoid and the second solenoid valve associated check valve coupled at a second end to the tank coil,
• the third solenoid valve and the third solenoid valve associated check valve coupled at a second end to the indoor coil;
• and
• the logic device controller operatively associated with the living space thermostat, the tank thermostat, and a periodic temperature check of the outdoor coil, to energize a selected reversing valve of the valve matrix and switch open a selected solenoid valve of the switch matrix to direct refrigerant through selected operative coils, and to selectively operate the compressor and the indoor and outdoor fans, to effect in accord with programmed modes of operation any one or more of a quiescent state, space cooling, space heating, tank water heating, and outdoor coil defrosting mode of operation in response to signals received from the thermostats.