US Patent 10883743 Water heater with flow bypass

A water heater has a water supply line, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the water supply line, a heating element positioned proximate to the heat exchanger, such that when activated, the heating element conveys heat to the heat exchanger and thereby heating water supplied by the water supply line, an output line in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and configured to receive heated water therefrom, a flow sensor configured to cause the heating element to activate in response to sensing a predetermined water flow rate through the water heater, and a bypass flow line operably connected between the water supply line and the output line.