Replies

1. 
   Barry_ | Jul 29, 1999 10:48pm | #9

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   Mike. If hot water is used in WC , it can melt the wax seal. That makes for a real mess.

2. 
   Guest_ | Jul 29, 1999 10:48pm | #10

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   A client is considering retrofitting her domestic hot water system with a recirculating pump. The house is undergoing extensive remodeling, and routing the new pipes is no problem.

   Any suggestions on where to look for info on designing and installing such a system? Also, have you any pros and cons to share regarding this?

   Thanks

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 23, 1999 06:22pm | #1

   *Bronze pump...tee out of your hot line farthest from the heat source and loop back with 1/2" copper to the pump and install a small expansion tank and pressure relief valve..I installed one last year with a switch to turn off circulator also....I'm not a full time plumber but it worked for me.near the stream,j

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 23, 1999 10:49pm | #2

   *Grundfos makes a pump specifically for circulating hot water. It has an integral 24 hour timer with 15 minute (or so) on-off tab calibrations. There is no reason to circulate more than is necessary to have hot water on demand.

1. 
   dewam | Jul 24, 1999 03:05am | #3

   *The slickest one I've seen had a motion detector with the on time set to get hot water to the location and then shut off. Worked great when you walk into the bathroom, and just wash your hands. The water was always hot. Everything mounted in a 21 cubic box. Den

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 24, 1999 08:35pm | #4

   *Less fussy than a motion detector might be to mate the pump switch with the light switch? Would it "hurt" the pump if someone left the light/pump on for 8-10-12 hours?My plumber said in his house he was going to put a short timer-switch next to the medicine cabinet for the pump. Then, he said, while you're doing your usual zit exam in the mirror..........

2. 
   Guest_ | Jul 24, 1999 09:37pm | #5

   *Jim,Great idea and no, the pump does not care if it is on, off or switched a few times a day. And I like the ideas presented here so far...here's all of them combined maybe...a motion detector switch in the bathroom turning on the lights, the remote fan that you can't here and the water circulator...there also is a company making a recirculator that is retrofitted under the sink between the hot and cold supplies ...It turns itself on the second you call for hot water so as to quickly bring hot water up by pump dumping the cold static water in the hot lines back into the cold supply side...pretty nifty idea.near the stream,j

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   Guest_ | Jul 25, 1999 12:10am | #6

   *Let me get this straight. In order to avoid turning on the tap and having to wait for hot water, we can install a pump and a motion detector and come into the room and have to wait for the pump to circulate the water. Or we can install a pump and a switch and turn on the switch and have to wait for hot water. Why not just plumb the hot water to the toilet, then when you flush the toilet will use up the cold water in the pipes and you will have hot water at the sink. But what about the kitchen?

4. 
   Guest_ | Jul 25, 1999 05:13am | #7

   *......I suppose we could always hire someone from Psychic Friends network to toggle the switch on and off....Seriously, though, thanks, Mike for the Grundfos name. Ive got a call in to the local distributor.Also, Jack, what's the purpose of the tank and pressure relief valve? I can understand a check valve or something, but wouldn't the hot water heater tank handle any expansion, and it has a built in pressure relief valve anyway.Thanks,Syd

5. 
   Guest_ | Jul 25, 1999 07:29am | #8

   *Come to think of it, Syd, check valves are very important. I hooked up my system and omitted one check valve and had no hot water. Make sure that you have one directional flow only, both from the pump and normal pressure flow.