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How to Get Hot Water with a Recirculating Pump | Ask This Old House

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Plumbing and insulation
By web3d
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This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how a recirculation line can save energy, money, and time. (See steps below.)
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Steps for How to Get Hot Water with a Recirculating Pump:
1. A recirculation line is a separate water pipe that runs off the hot-water line from the farthest plumbing fixture back to the water heater.
2. A pump at the water heater moves hot water through the recirculation line. Any cold water in the recirculation line is returned to the heater.
3. A check valve must be installed in the line to ensure hot water only goes in one direction.
4. An aqua-stat is mounted to the hot-water pipe. When it senses that hot water is returning to the heater, it shuts off the pump.
5. A timer is used to ensure that the system isn’t maintaining the recirculation line when you’re away at work or sleeping.
6. All-in-one pumps are available that have the aqua-stat and timer built into them.
7. Pumps and fittings can be used to push cold water in the hot-water pipe into the cold-water line until it senses that hot water has finally arrived from the heater.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Get Hot Water with a Recirculating Pump | Ask This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

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Ask This Old HousediyDIY Ideasdo it yourselfhome improvementHome Repairhot waterhot water pumpHow To BuildHow To FixHow To InstallKevin O'ConnorlifestyleNorm AbramPlumberplumbingrecirc pumprecirculating pumprenovationRenovation IdeasRichard Tretheweyroger cookThis Old HouseTom Silvatom silva constructiontom silva housetom silva this old housetom silva toolstommy silva

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Comment (0)

  1. So you're pumping water that was in your water heater, which is not recommended for either drinking or cooking, back into the municipal water supply? Yes, I realize that the importance is relative to the volume, the size of the house and proximity of neighbors. What if there is a check valve in the cold water system and no expansion tank at the water heater (hopefully a rare mistake)? Guess that's where the TPR valve would hopefully save you.

  2. wouldn't using a Point-Of-Use Electric Tankless Water Heater be better, if you're waiting a long time for hot water to the point of installing a recirculation line. why not just install a mini Tankless Water Heater seems that would be more efficient.

  3. The one thing I continue to not quite understand is how hot water will be immediately available at all my faucets/showers, etc by putting the one check valve on the sink at the furthermost run from the water heater. It would seem that there would still be some branches/legs of pipe to the other faucets/showers that still would have some cool water in them, and that really only the sink with the check valve is the "immediately available" sink. I have a two-story house, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, etc, spread out over 4600 sq ft. Will I really get hot water immediately at every faucet/shower in the house?

  4. Why not use a temp controlled solenoid valve at the bypass? There would be a delay until the water reached a set temperature, but no wasted water. I'm thinking like in an RV…

  6. I don't live at the article circle, so I'll deal with the cold water on my hands for a minute. I'm not wasting water that way, saving $500. and future electricity use and added $. That's only be good for a high-end hotel where's things are very convenient.

  9. Sir i want to ask that we have a pump near water heater. I think that pump will suck water and if we turn on tap the pressure will be less in that tap because pump will suck water for recirculation

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