Lennox Manufacturing, Inc.

Robert J Alvarez

Gregory W Murtha

Islam O Shahin

A combination water heating and space heating apparatus includes a water heating unit and a space heating unit. The water heating unit has a water storage tank, a heating device for heating water stored in the tank, and a first temperature sensor for sensing water temperature. The space heating unit includes a heat exchanger for heating air supplied to an indoor space, a blower for blowing air over the heat exchanger, and a second temperature sensor for sensing air temperature in the space. Heated water is supplied from the tank to the heat exchanger by means of a circulation pump when the second temperature sensor indicates a demand for heat in the space. The apparatus is controlled to give priority to domestic hot water use (e.g., potable water) over space heating use. This is accomplished by disabling the blower in response to the temperature of the heated water supplied from the tank to the heat exchanger being below a predetermined temperature, while still allowing heated water to be circulated between the tank and the heat exchanger as long as a demand for space heating is still present. When the temperature of the heated water supplied to the heat exchanger recovers above the predetermined temperature, the blower is re-enabled to blow air over the heat exchanger if the demand for space heating is still present.

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Carrollton, TX, United States of America

Robert J Alvarez