I saw this hot water recirculating device at costco. It reduces (eliminates)
the time for hot water to travel to distance faucets by circulating the hot
water.

http://www.wattspremier.com/watts/sh...ID=181&CATID=1

It looks like the water sitting in hot water pipe is being pump into the
cold water pipe, which eventually loops back into the hot water heater.

Has anyone installed this, and does it work well? Does it increase the
heating bill significantly?

"peter" wrote in message
news:8Rr3j.17540$Jy1.15667@trndny02...
I saw this hot water recirculating device at costco. It reduces
(eliminates) the time for hot water to travel to distance faucets
by circulating the hot water.

http://www.wattspremier.com/watts/sh...ID=181&CATID=1

It looks like the water sitting in hot water pipe is being pump
into the cold water pipe, which eventually loops back into the hot
water heater.

Has anyone installed this, and does it work well? Does it increase
the heating bill significantly?
When we had our house built in 1996, I specified a hot water
circulation pump. The plumbing was installed as a loop going to
each location in series and then back to the water heater where it
goes back into the water heater. It works wonderfully, taking only
a second or two for hot water at all locations. We have a wall
switch on the pump, and it is normally off unless someone is going
to wash dishes, take a shower, etc (off when not using hot water).

I highly recommend this system, but am not sure it can be installed
in a pre-existing plumbing system since there is no loop.

Bob-tx

On Nov 29, 3:45 am, "Bob" wrote:
"peter" wrote in message

news:[email protected] saw this hot water recirculating device at costco. It reduces
(eliminates) the time for hot water to travel to distance faucets
by circulating the hot water.

http://www.wattspremier.com/watts/sh...User_ID=119881...

It looks like the water sitting in hot water pipe is being pump
into the cold water pipe, which eventually loops back into the hot
water heater.

Has anyone installed this, and does it work well? Does it increase
the heating bill significantly?

When we had our house built in 1996, I specified a hot water
circulation pump. The plumbing was installed as a loop going to
each location in series and then back to the water heater where it
goes back into the water heater. It works wonderfully, taking only
a second or two for hot water at all locations. We have a wall
switch on the pump, and it is normally off unless someone is going
to wash dishes, take a shower, etc (off when not using hot water).

I highly recommend this system, but am not sure it can be installed
in a pre-existing plumbing system since there is no loop.

Bob-tx

Seems an extra expense for no gain. You are paying to dump cold water
back into the heater to be reheated. That has to cost more than the
same water put down the drain. Then having to turn on the pump and
wait comes to the same thing as just turning ont the water and waiting
for it to get hot.

Leavign the pump on would increase the cost as you would be constantly
reheating the same water.

Harry K

"Harry K" wrote in message
news:9d302c20-3ef1-48b4-93e3-
When we had our house built in 1996, I specified a hot water
circulation pump. The plumbing was installed as a loop going to
each location in series and then back to the water heater where it
goes back into the water heater. It works wonderfully, taking only
a second or two for hot water at all locations. We have a wall
switch on the pump, and it is normally off unless someone is going
to wash dishes, take a shower, etc (off when not using hot water).

I highly recommend this system, but am not sure it can be installed
in a pre-existing plumbing system since there is no loop.

Bob-tx

Seems an extra expense for no gain. You are paying to dump cold water
back into the heater to be reheated. That has to cost more than the
same water put down the drain. Then having to turn on the pump and
wait comes to the same thing as just turning ont the water and waiting
for it to get hot.

Leavign the pump on would increase the cost as you would be constantly
reheating the same water.

You think it would cost less to buy new water and heat it from near freezing
than to re-heat room temp water? Somehow, I can't agree.

Bob

Bob F wrote:

"Harry K" wrote in message
news:9d302c20-3ef1-48b4-93e3-

....
Seems an extra expense for no gain. You are paying to dump cold water
back into the heater to be reheated. That has to cost more than the
same water put down the drain. Then having to turn on the pump and
wait comes to the same thing as just turning ont the water and waiting
for it to get hot.

Leavign the pump on would increase the cost as you would be constantly
reheating the same water.


You think it would cost less to buy new water and heat it from near freezing
than to re-heat room temp water? Somehow, I can't agree.


The two are not easily comparable.
With one you are spending energy only when you initially use hot water.
With the other you are constantly spending energy.
Factors involved in making the comparison include:
incoming water temperature, size and length of water lines,
how well insulated they are and whether they are in conditioned
or unconditioned space, how hot you want the water before you
start using it, etc.

Also, if you don't have a separate return loop, your cold water
in the house will always be warm (or hot) unless you run it for
a while before use (like you used to do for hot water).

"M Q" wrote in message
news:CaE3j.26549$XT.23064@trnddc01...
Bob F wrote:

"Harry K" wrote in message
news:9d302c20-3ef1-48b4-93e3-

...
Seems an extra expense for no gain. You are paying to dump cold water
back into the heater to be reheated. That has to cost more than the
same water put down the drain. Then having to turn on the pump and
wait comes to the same thing as just turning ont the water and waiting
for it to get hot.

Leavign the pump on would increase the cost as you would be constantly
reheating the same water.


You think it would cost less to buy new water and heat it from near freezing
than to re-heat room temp water? Somehow, I can't agree.


The two are not easily comparable.
With one you are spending energy only when you initially use hot water.
With the other you are constantly spending energy.

You didn't read the post being sdiscussed here, did you?

Factors involved in making the comparison include:
incoming water temperature, size and length of water lines,
how well insulated they are and whether they are in conditioned
or unconditioned space, how hot you want the water before you
start using it, etc.

Also, if you don't have a separate return loop, your cold water
in the house will always be warm (or hot) unless you run it for
a while before use (like you used to do for hot water).

Again, you didn't read the post.

When we had our house built in 1996, I specified a hot water
circulation pump. The plumbing was installed as a loop going to
each location in series and then back to the water heater where it
goes back into the water heater. It works wonderfully, taking only
a second or two for hot water at all locations. We have a wall
switch on the pump, and it is normally off unless someone is going
to wash dishes, take a shower, etc (off when not using hot water).



Bob

Harry K wrote:

... You are paying to dump cold water back into the heater to be reheated.
That has to cost more than the same water put down the drain.

No...

Nick

On Nov 29, 2:22 pm, wrote:
Harry K wrote:

... You are paying to dump cold water back into the heater to be reheated.
That has to cost more than the same water put down the drain.

No...

Nick

??? just that. No defense?

Bob does have a point as far as the "turn the pump on only when hot
water is wanted". Probably pretty much a wash as to cost.

If the reciculator runs full time, then you are paying to heat by
whatever amount all the space the pipe runs through 24/7. Yes, even
if the pipes are insulated there is a loss.

Harry K

"Harry K" wrote in message
...
On Nov 29, 2:22 pm, wrote:
Harry K wrote:

... You are paying to dump cold water back into the heater to be
reheated.
That has to cost more than the same water put down the drain.

No...

Nick

??? just that. No defense?

Bob does have a point as far as the "turn the pump on only when hot
water is wanted". Probably pretty much a wash as to cost.

If the reciculator runs full time, then you are paying to heat by
whatever amount all the space the pipe runs through 24/7. Yes, even
if the pipes are insulated there is a loss.

Harry K

except a good portion of that heat goes into the house in most cases, so
isn't a loss per se. if you live in a place that is undergoing a drought,
the savings in water could be offset by the cost of the energy.

I added a loop to my hot water supply line, but didn't need a pump since
my bathroom is on the second floor, and gravity does all the work; I did
put in a check valve to prevent backflow into the return line.

You save a lot on water and time, but you spend a little more on
whatever you use to heat your hot water. I don't lose that much, since
I live where we have winters, and the return line functions somewhat
like an extra radiator. My loss is during the few months in summer when
we have the air conditioning on, but the extra heat isn't worth whatever
it would take to shut it off for three months.

peter wrote:
I saw this hot water recirculating device at costco. It reduces (eliminates)
the time for hot water to travel to distance faucets by circulating the hot
water.

http://www.wattspremier.com/watts/sh...ID=181&CATID=1

It looks like the water sitting in hot water pipe is being pump into the
cold water pipe, which eventually loops back into the hot water heater.

Has anyone installed this, and does it work well? Does it increase the
heating bill significantly?

On Nov 29, 12:10 am, "peter" wrote:
I saw this hot water recirculating device at costco. It reduces (eliminates)
the time for hot water to travel to distance faucets by circulating the hot
water.

http://www.wattspremier.com/watts/sh...User_ID=119881...

It looks like the water sitting in hot water pipe is being pump into the
cold water pipe, which eventually loops back into the hot water heater.

Has anyone installed this, and does it work well? Does it increase the
heating bill significantly?

Except of course it dumps the sitting water into the cold line *right
at the faucet*, and I see nothing that would ever make this water
"loop back" to the water heater. So unless you draw it immediately
(eg, you're drawing a cold+hot mix) it'll just sit there until someone
draws cold water, in which case they'll be getting this water which
was heated cooled.

I don't think it's a great idea to be drinking water that's been
through the water heater, especially if you've got your water heater
adjusted down to non-scald temperatures.

Now, a loop that goes all the way back to the water heater, different
matter.

Am I the only one who's worried about this? I have seen such things
discussed many times but nobody has flagged this as a concern.

Chip C
Toronto