When you turn on your faucet for hot water, you often have to wait until the water turns from cold to hot. This delay can be tedious, but it is also a waste of water. Installing a hot water recirculating pump can solve this issue because it allows hot water to come out of your faucet as soon as you turn it on.
Another great benefit of a hot water recirculating pump is saving you money on your energy bills. The pump uses less energy overall because you don’t have to wait for the hot water to travel from the water heater to your faucet. Some estimates show that a household can save up to $100 per year on their energy bill by using a recirculating pump.
If you’re interested in saving money and making your life more convenient, a hot water recirculating pump is excellent. Just be sure to have a professional install it to do everything correctly.
Recirculating pumps are devices that help circulate water in a piping system so that hot water is readily available at the fixtures without waiting for it to travel from the water heater. This saves energy and money because less water is wasted waiting for the hot water to arrive.
Additionally, these pumps can also improve your indoor air quality by reducing humidity levels.
What Is a Hot Water Recirculating Pump?
Usually, when you use hot water in your faucet and turn it off, the remaining hot water stays in the pipe. Eventually, it turns cold. So when you turn on the faucet again, cold water comes out first.
This is because the hot water has cooled down and is now sitting at the bottom of the pipe.
On the other hand, the cold water is still moving and is pushed out by the hot water.
You can avoid this problem by using a recirculating pump.
A hot water recirculating pump is a technology that draws the unused hot water back to the water heater or circulates it again through the pipeline.
When you turn on the hot water faucet again, the device will pump that recirculated hot water out of the faucet. Hence, you will get your hot water right away.
Water and Energy Efficiency
The cold water you waste while waiting for the hot water to come out can reach up to 2.5 gallons. Imagine how much water your family would waste in a day under these conditions. Installing a hot water recirculating pump will prevent you from wasting water.
Note that this system runs on electrical power. That means the device will increase your electric bill. If you want to minimize this increase, turn the system off when you don’t need it. You can also buy a unit with a high energy efficiency rating.
Another thing to consider about this technology is that the instant hot water trades off with the cold water. So if the hot water recirculating pump is on, you will not get instant cold water. However, if you turn on the cold water faucet, you will get hot water first before the cold water comes out.
Types of Hot Water Recirculating Pumps
There are two types of hot water recirculating pumps. Each one has its benefits and drawbacks.
Full System (Active Pump)
A full recirculating pump has a complete loop between the faucet and the water heater. Therefore, all the unused hot water in the pipes will not stay there.
Instead, the pump will circulate it back to the water heater. This unit may come with a sensor and a timer to save energy. These features allow the system to turn itself off after the water completes a loop or at specific times you set.
If you have a large family or entertain often, a full recirculating pump is the way to go. Then, you’ll never have to wait for hot water again.
Comfort System (Passive Pump)
A passive pump is a cheaper version of a hot water recirculating pump. Instead of sending it back to the water heater, the pump will recirculate the remaining water to the pipes and keep it there. However, since the hot and cold water shares the same pipe, you might get lukewarm water when turning on the cold water faucet.
The hot water recirculating pump has its benefits and drawbacks. Therefore, you need to think it through before deciding whether to install it or not. After all, it is about much more than just quicker hot water flow.
If you have a traditional gravity-fed hot water system, then a passive recirculating pump might be good. These pumps are designed to work with these systems and can provide you with the same benefits as an active recirculating pump, but without the need to re-route your pipes.
An active recirculating pump is the best option if you have a tankless water heater. These pumps will send the hot water directly back to the water heater, so you’ll never have to worry about lukewarm water again.
ECM Air Conditioning, with its headquarters located in Boynton Beach, FL, provides air conditioning services within Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County. If you’re looking to have a new HVAC system installed, we’re on-call and ready to assist you. So if you’re in need of an HVAC installation, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an inspection! Our HVAC installation experts will check your ductwork, measure, check wire sizes, and more before making recommendations to ensure maximum efficiency and comfort. Call us at 561-295-1763 or contact our HVAC installation team online by clicking here.