Hot Water Recirculating System

By Tim Carter
©1993-2008 Tim Carter

Summary: A hot water recirculating system will give you instant hot water - no waiting. But installing them is easier in some homes than in others. Hot water recirculating systems give you instant gratification - steaming hot water at the fixture.

Related Articles: Water Heater Recirculating Pumps Video, Hot Water Recirculating Loop, Hot Water Recirculating System - Installation TipsGravity Hot Water Recirculating Loops, Retro-Fit Recirculating Pump Comparison



Steaming hot water as soon as you turn on a shower valve is a great feeling on a cold morning. The same is true at your kitchen sink or any other plumbing fixture. As our lives become more fast paced, we don't want to wait for anything. Instant gratification is unfortunately becoming the norm.

The installation of a hot water recirculating loop system will allow you to have hot water at your fixtures. Those people who have their heaters below the piping system get the recirculating work done for free Those who live in slab houses or who have hot water lines below the heater must use inexpensive in-line recirculating pumps. The point is that you do not have to wait for hot water.

New Construction vs. Existing

If you are building a new home or rehabilitating one, now is the time to put in a recirculating loop! You will have no trouble installing the return loop lines and insulating all of the necessary pipes.

If your house is an existing two story house, it can be tough to get a return loop pipe up close to the second floor or higher bathrooms.

It is also virtually impossible to properly insulate all of the hot water supply pipes.

Existing ranch style houses that have a great majority of the plumbing pipes exposed in the basement are the best candidates for retrofitting. These houses allow you to insulate all but just a few feet of hot water supply lines. They also permit you to install a return loop close to each hot water fixture.


 


Comments:

Don
13 Feb 2008, 20:42
This article indicates a slab home requires a system with a pump. The Hot Water Lobster System (pumpless)web site doesn't say anything about not being applicable to a slab home. Who is correct?
AsktheBuilder
15 Feb 2008, 08:44
Don,
I don't make claims for products. You need to contact the lobster people and ask them about their limitations.
Don
15 Feb 2008, 12:12
I contacted Lobster and they say the system will function properly in a slab home.
Don
30 Jun 2008, 20:49
The HWL didn't work in our home. Lobster said it was because we had check valves in our water system or hot water heater (no according to AOSmith) which I could never substantiate. Now I'm reluctant to try anything including those that have a pump. Tony, you've endorsed it, but is this on HWL's theory or do you have one in your home?

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