Does anyone know of a zigbee or Zwave temperature sensor to monitor a copper water pipe? Anyone implemented a solution?
I’ve done searches but questions are very old, if answered at all.
My use case is that we live VERY close to the water tower, thus, our water supply temperature isn’t relatively constant or consistent. I want to bump up the water heater temperature (or adjust downwards) depending on the incoming trending water temperature.
I have a Leakbot, which looks for leaks by monitoring the tiny temp drop over time in the main water supply line. However, it’s not Hubitat integrated, and as far as I know doesn’t have an API. Even in their interface, there is no displayed temperature - just leak or no-leak.
Though you would think that air temperature and season would make this easy, the intensity and duration of the weather impacts the tower’s water with varying lag. A couple weeks of below freezing weather means the water is quite cold, but even though it’s winter, I can’t determine when the tower will warm up because of 50s, low 60s. The summer had 90+ degree temps for weeks.
I’m trying to prevent scalding water at the same time ensuring there is enough hot water for the occupants.
I have a ds18b20 temp probe taped to my hot water lines to assist me with monitoring my hot water recirculation pump. This has been in place for years and has worked out well and an option for you. Previously I was using a Qubino Flush 1D relay in my crawl and those devices have an optional temp probe you can connect to it but I recently changed out that device with a Shelly Uni Plus. The Shelly allows you to connect up to 4 temp probes so I now have 2 connected in a few different spots in my crawl space so I can monitor the temperature.
A Fibaro Smart Implant will also do this. Don't skimp on the probe.
Doesn't the water heater regulate itself with a hydrostat, or whatever?
I have a high temperature buffer heat/dhw tank, that ranges in temperature from maybe 188-130. I have a mixing valve on it to supply dhw at the proper temperature.
Yeah being in WI my cold water is extra cold in Winter, have never noticed any difference in the hot water. Sometimes it seems hotter than others but that happens any time of year, I would guess just due to high/low range tolerances of the heater to prevent too much cycling.
Oooh. I have a Fibaro implant left over. Which sensor would you recommend? The one posted above or another?
I can set the water heater temperature which is integrated with HE. 120 F in the summer is sufficient. But in the winter, I need 125 or 130, and with visitors, sometimes higher than that when everyone is showering in quick succession.
Yes, water heater does its job really well in reaching the set point. But when mixed with the very cold water at the faucet / shower, the effective total amount of hot water is greatly diminished. Two people showering in a row in the dead of winter needs a higher setpoint or the second person runs out mid shower. Then consider the other possibility simultaneous hot water use in the house.
This summer, with 90+ degrees for a few weeks, the “cold” water wasn’t cold enough the mix the hot water side, resulting in the possibility of scalding. Needed to reduce the heater set point. Also, saved on unnecessary hot water heating.
Currently setpoint changed manually or with crude “season” Rule logic. With weather all over the place, the logic is not effective. With a temperature sensor, I can simply “if incoming water < 42 (or whatever), bump the water heater setpoint by variable + 10F, elsif < 50 then variable + 5, elseif > 65 then variable -5, else do nothing”.
It sounds like people use hotter water to shower with in the winter. Probably.
I don't know, but I went as eBay cheap as I could for three sensors on my buffer tank. Had to snake them under insulation. One failed. Didn't know which, yada yada. You only have one, so that's good. And maybe under some pipe insulation wouldn't be that hard to get to, unless it's in a crawl space, lol.
You say the heater is integrated with Hubitat: How?
I would think that even in summer, you could shower with mostly "cold" water, which isn't. Adjusting at the shower.
If you want to get more out of your water heater and have a constant temperature, consider a mixing valve, as I said. You can have your water heater at a higher temperature and then dial in the mixing valve to give you the temperature you want.
Here are some pictures of my buffer tank (for the pellet and oil boilers) setup:
Wouldn't a whole-house tankless water heater and shower pressure/temp compensated mixing valves, solve this permanently, for both seasons? Would save money from keeping that water heated, when there is no demand.
Tankless water heaters work by setting the exit temp of the water and they heat it correspondingly (and based on demand), as needed to hit that temp. Mine is set to 130 Deg F. Here in Texas, during the summer, it doesn't need much gain to hit that temp. A bit more in our winter. Likewise, if a bathroom sink faucet is the only demand, it doesn't heat much. If my wifes tub is the demand, it heats much more.
I don't particularly like tankless water heaters, but they do have their place. Not in my house, though! To be fair, the last time I used one was 20 years ago. Wasn't happy with the performance. I'm sure they are better now.
At this point, I'm interested in comfort, convenience, and no getting yelled at if/when the shower goes cold!
I have a Rheem gas water heater and the Econet wifi module and Kris' awesome Rheem EcoNet Integration. Unfortunately, it's not electric, so I can't get or use the internal temperature sensors. In terms of smarts, Rheem treats their gas water heater line as a fairy tale step-child.
