We recently purchased a 2 storey home with a circulating pump.
Recently we have been having trouble getting halfway through a shower before the hot runs out. Had the power company out twice to check the 60 gallon tank and it is fine.
Finally, I turned off the valves to the circulating pump and problem solved as far as showers go….now the problem we are having is it takes about 2 minutes and gallons of water before we can get hot water upstairs just to wash our hands.
Any ideas what the problem could be with the pump?
Also, it seems the circulating line only goes around the unfinished basement and each room trunks off that line, so I’m not sure how effective the pump is while it is just keeping basement water hot. Water heading up 2 stories is still sitting dormant until it is called for and all the while cooling.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Peter
Replies
90% of these pumps are installed wrong. Everybody thinks you just have to pump water around and everything will be fine.
Go back a few days and read all of the threads about this topic.
BTW , the system as you describe it, will never work properly.
Hi Peter
Don't know enough about your system but normal recirc's go from the tank to the most remote HW spot and then return thru a smaller (1/2 inch, insulated) line. It is really nice to have a timer switch on the pump so it doesn't circulate HW constantly, thereby cooling it and putting more strain on the heater (and the elec. bill). If your circulator only goes around the basement and runs constantly, it will eat up the electricity.
Maybe add a timer switch and crank it before showering to 5 min. or so.
Insulate the lines where you can. Power companies love conventional hot water heaters and circ. pumps.
Nuvue
As Bo said, read this thread:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=85507.1