Systems and methods for preventing freeze damage to heating system pipes
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for preventing freeze damage to heating system pipes are provided. In some embodiments, systems for preventing freeze damage to heating system pipes that carry a liquid used to heat a heated space and that are exposed to freezing temperatures outside of the heated space are provided, the systems comprising: a hardware controller that causes the liquid to be circulated through the heating system pipes irrespective of the air temperature in the heated space.
1. A system for preventing freeze damage to heating system pipes that carry a liquid used to heat a heated space and that are exposed to freezing temperatures outside of the heated space, comprising:
a hardware controller configured to:
receive an outside temperature measurement;
determine a first specific duration for which the liquid is to be circulated through the heating system pipes based on a first value of the outside temperature measurement;
cause the liquid to be circulated through the heating system pipes for the first specific duration during a first time period;
determine a second specific duration for which the liquid is to be circulated through the heating system pipes based on a second value of the outside temperature measurement, wherein the second value is different from the first value and wherein the second specific duration is different from the first specific duration; and
cause the liquid to be circulated through the heating system pipes for the second specific duration during a second time period that is different than the first time period.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless receiver that receives a temperature measurement from a remote temperature sensor and that provides that temperature measurement to the hardware controller as the outside temperature measurement.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an interface that receives a temperature measurement from a remote temperature sensor via a computer network and that provides that temperature measurement to the hardware controller as the outside temperature measurement.
4. A method for preventing freeze damage to heating system pipes that carry a liquid used to heat a heated space and that are exposed to freezing temperatures outside of the heated space, comprising:
receiving, using a hardware controller, an outside temperature measurement;
determining, using the hardware controller, a first specific duration for which the liquid is to be circulated through the heating system pipes based on a first value of the outside temperature measurement;
causing, using the hardware controller, the liquid to be circulated through the heating system pipes for the first specific duration a first time period;
determining, using the hardware controller, a second specific duration for which the liquid is to be circulated through the heating system pipes based on a second value of the outside temperature measurement, wherein the second value is different from the first value and wherein the second specific duration is different from the first specific duration; and
causing, using the hardware controller, the liquid to be circulated through the heating system pipes for the second specific duration during a second time period that is different than the first time period.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving a temperature measurement from a remote temperature sensor and using that temperature measurement as the outside temperature measurement.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving a temperature measurement from a remote temperature sensor via a computer network and using that that temperature measurement as the outside temperature measurement.