Table of content
- For electric water heaters, the Aquanta controller (the blue box) connects to the tank’s power source, turning it on/off based on its “learning” algorithm or your control commands sent via the Aquanta app or a 3rd party system such as Alexa.
- For gas water heaters, Aquanta controls tank heating in one of two ways: for atmospheric–vented tanks, it sends control commands to the tank’s electronic ignition control via the supplied COM cable. For power-vented tanks, it directly controls the power to the tank’s electric ignition control.
Aquanta is designed to work with most residential and small commercial storage-style water heaters - the most common type in the US and Canada - but please double-check the Compatibility checklist on the Buy Now page before purchasing.
- For electric water heaters, Aquanta maximum rated current is 23A, the circuit breaker has to be 30A max. Water heaters typically have 4500W heater elements (18.75A), although some water heaters have 5500W elements (23A). You can usually find these specs on a sticker on your water heater.
The maximum wire gauge is AWG10, which is the typical wiring in a water heater, although AWG12 is OK as well.
- For gas water heaters, your heater must be a power-vented tank (i.e. with a powered exhaust blower) or have an electronic ignition control with a serial communications port labelled “COM”.
- Wifi specs: Aquanta’s WiFi radio operates on the 2.4GHz band (802.11 b/g/n mode) only and requires the router’s security to be set to WPA2 (which is the typical default). Aquanta will not connect to hidden SSIDs.
Yes, each water heater requires its own Aquanta unit. However, you can manage multiple units across different locations using a single user account.
Not yet. We currently only ship to the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda. Additionally, storage-style water heaters vary by region, and some may not be compatible.
Yes! Aquanta works well with most solar hot water systems by ensuring the backup heater only turns on when necessary. Check the Installation section to confirm compatibility with your solar storage tank. Our team has a background in solar water heating, so we love this setup!
Download the free Aquanta app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
You can:
- Set manual on/off schedules
- Monitor "Hot Water Availability,” which is an approximation of how much the tank is heated to its set point
- Adjust auto-efficiency settings
- Track energy usage over time
- Set Away mode schedules
- Set up a temporary override of Aquanta or 3rd party controls (i.e. the "Boost" mode)
For more details, watch a video overview of the dashboard.
Away keeps the tank from heating, although there is a freeze protection feature that automatically turns the tank on if the reported temperature drops below 50° F.
Boost overrides Aquanta controls and any 3rd party controls (e.g. Alexa) and allows the tank to heat up to its mechanical thermostat setting. Aquanta cannot force a tank to heat more than its mechanical thermostat setting.
- The optional leak detection sensor installs in the drain pan. If moisture is detected, Aquanta will beep continuously and send an email and/or in-app alert.
- Temperature control: Aquanta cannot heat water beyond the physical thermostat’s set point, preventing unsafe temperatures.
- Safety controls:
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- If the water temperature exceeds 167°F (75°C), Aquanta shuts off power to prevent overheating.
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- If the reported temperature drops below 50F (10°C), Aquanta will automatically turn the tank on to help prevent freezing.
- A typical U.S. electric water heater uses 2,662 kWh/year, while a gas heater uses 210 therms/year (U.S. Energy Information Administration).
- Studies suggest 20-50% of this energy is wasted due to standby loss.
- Based on internal testing and modeling, Aquanta can save 10-30% of water heating energy through intelligent control.
- Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing and utility incentives can further increase savings.
The Time-of-Use (TOU) feature helps users on TOU electricity plans by automatically reducing water heating during peak pricing periods, saving money while ensuring hot water availability.
- Works on all Aquanta models, but is most beneficial for electric storage water heaters due to their high electricity usage.
- Some utility TOU programs are pre-loaded, but if yours isn’t please send us a link to the desired rate plan to support@aquanta.io
Aquanta has a cloud-based data interface that allows integration with other smart home devices. We are actively working on integrations with leading smart home platforms and will announce them as they become available. At this time, we do not offer an open API.
With the Aquanta skill for Amazon Alexa, you can control your water heater using voice commands and smart home routines.
To set up Alexa with Aquanta:
- Set up your Aquanta account and pair it with your device using the Aquanta app.
- In the Alexa app, go to Devices, tap “+”, and select Water Heater.
- Follow the prompts to enable the Aquanta skill and link your Aquanta account.
- Your Aquanta device will now appear in Alexa alongside your other smart home devices.
Example voice commands:
- “Alexa, tell Aquanta to boost.”
- “Alexa, ask Aquanta to boost for 1 day.” (or any duration)
- “Alexa, tell Aquanta to stop boosting.”
- “Alexa, turn on away mode for (device name).”
- “Alexa, turn off away mode.”
Aquanta also integrates with Alexa routines, allowing you to automate your water heater alongside other smart home devices.
Not at this time, but we may explore local communications and control in the future as our distribution partnerships evolve.
For assistance, contact support@aquanta.io.
No, there are no fees for individual users. However, fleet users (those managing multiple units) may incur charges for access to advanced dashboard, analytics, and data integration features.
- Please follow these steps:
- If you have not done so already, download the Aquanta app from the Google Play or Apple App Store (search for "Aquanta").
- Log in to the Aquanta app with your existing Aquanta user ID. If you've only just downloaded the app, it will walk you through the steps to reconnect to WiFi.
- If you already have it loaded, tap on the "person" icon in the upper right corner, then "Support," then "Reconnect My Aquanta to WiFi" and follow the prompts from there.
- Make sure that your Bluetooth radio is enabled on the device you are using to connect Aquanta to WiFi. The app uses it to connect to the local WiFi LAN. Specifically, please make sure that you have Bluetooth Nearby Permissions set to “Allowed.”
- Please make sure that your WiFi router has the 2.4GHz radio and WPA2 security enabled. Aquanta is 2.4 GHz only.
- If you have a mesh network and are having difficulty connecting to a mesh or satellite node, turn off the satellite mesh devices and see if the Aquanta will connect to the base, and then turn the satellite devices back on.
- If you are still having issues, please contact us at support@aquanta.io.
- You will need to reset your Aquanta to make it "forget" your old WiFi, so follow these steps:
- If you have not done so already, download the Aquanta app from the Google Play or Apple App Store (search for "Aquanta").
- Press the small blue button on the side of the Aquanta for 10 seconds, which resets the unit.
- Log in to the Aquanta app with your existing Aquanta user ID. If you've only just downloaded the app, it will walk you through the steps to reconnect to WiFi.
- If you already have it loaded, tap on the "person" icon in the upper right corner, then "Support," then "Reconnect My Aquanta to WiFi" and follow the prompts from there.
- Make sure that your Bluetooth radio is enabled on the device you are using to connect Aquanta to WiFi. The app uses it to connect to the local WiFi LAN. Specifically, please make sure that you have Bluetooth Nearby Permissions set to “Allowed.”
- Please make sure that your WiFi router has the 2.4GHz radio and WPA2 security enabled. Aquanta is 2.4 GHz only.
- If you have a mesh network and are having difficulty connecting to a mesh or satellite node, turn off the satellite mesh devices and see if the Aquanta will connect to the base, and then turn the satellite devices back on.
- If you are still having issues, contact us at support@aquanta.io.
- The most likely reason is that your Aquanta is already paired with an existing user account. If you have already created an Aquanta user account and paired your device with it, log out of the app and log back in with that existing user ID.
If you moved into a home with an existing Aquanta, please send us an email to support@aquanta.io and send us a photo of the device’s pairing code, which is the 6-digit alphanumeric on the label on the top of the Aquanta unit, and we will remove that device from the prior owner’s account so you can pair it with your own user account.
- Please contact us at support@aquanta.io and we can take care of that for you.
Intermittent connectivity likely indicates a signal strength issue at the water heater location, regardless of proximity to the WiFi router. To address this, try to reorient the Aquanta a few degrees on its axis at the water heater and also try the same with the router. This will reorient their respective radios and perhaps provide a more continuous connection.
Additionally, if you have a lot of WiFi devices in your home, many signals being broadcast can lead to interference, so changing your WiFi to a different channel may help.
- If WiFi or internet goes down, Aquanta continues operating based on the last schedule or command (e.g., "Away" mode) until connectivity is restored.
- If your home loses power:
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- Electric and power-vented gas water heaters will not function until power is restored.
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- Atmospheric-vented gas water heaters will continue following the last transmitted schedule until power and connectivity return.
This likely means that your Aquanta is offline. Please follow the troubleshooting steps above or contact us at support@aquanta.io for further assistance.
Aquanta shows daily, weekly, and monthly energy usage over time. Tap on the “Usage” button in the Aquanta app to view this information.
Still need help?
Have questions or need assistance? We’re here to help!
Email us at support@aquanta.io or click the button to reach out.