The Benefits of Hot Water Recirculation Systems

Are you looking for ways to save on water and maybe cut a little off your bills? Are you tired of hot showers that end lukewarm? Then consider installing a hot water recirculation system for home water heating that’s both instantaneous and more efficient.

Professional water treatment services often use something similar in their operations, but in recent years this technology has found its way into many American homes.

There are many benefits to using this type of hot water system. Apart from simply saving money, it’s also a good way to conserve natural resources — a typical hot water recirculation system can save a family more than 10,000 gallons of water every year. Even better, no more lukewarm showers!

 

How Do Hot Water Recirculation Systems Work? 

There are two main types of hot water recirculation systems — a demand system and an integrated system. In both cases, when you turn on the hot water faucet, instead of letting gallons of cool water go down the drain while you wait, that cold or lukewarm water instead returns to the system via the cold water line. 

The demand system uses the least amount of energy and saves the most water. A switch or motion sensor next to water fixtures kick starts a circulation pump, which moves room temperature water back to the water heater. When hot water gets to the tap farthest away, the pump shuts off. Hot water is heated simply by demand. 

With the integrated loop, hot water constantly cycles through, going by plumbing fixtures when not in use. It’s attached to these fixtures by a short pipe, so when a valve opens, the hot water pours down the pipe, and into your sink, bathtub, or shower.

 

What are the Advantages of Using a Hot Water Recirculation System? 

If you’re already taking energy saving measures, like installing a low flush toilet — which can save you up to 18,000 gallons of water a year — a hot water recirculation system can help you save another 12,000 gallons or more. This will reduce your water bill significantly and make your local water treatment services happy — municipal water waste is significantly minimized after installation.

 

According to the Department of Energy, between 800 to 1,600 kilowatt hours a year are wasted treating and transporting water to households that simply runs down the drain. With less water wasted, water treatment services can conserve valuable resources. In fact, these modern water heaters are so efficient that if you live in a drier area where water is actively conserved, you may be able to get a rebate or a tax break if you install such a system, which saves you even more money in the long run. 

Finally, many of these systems can be retrofitted to your existing plumbing, which means water heater installation can be done extremely quickly.

 

Who Can Help Me Install This System? 

Unless you have professional experience with plumbing repair, it’s best to get a professional plumber in to install the system. Though it is relatively easy to install when compared to other appliances, it’s always better to have an expert take charge when handling your pipes. Find local plumbing services that specialize in modern water heater installation.

Luckily, you can find these systems through online resources like their manufacturers or even at certain retail home stores. Once you have the system delivered, call your local plumber for help installing.

Spend less time waiting for your hot water to turn on, conserve thousands of gallons of water per year, and cut costs on your bills with a hot water recirculation system. What’s not to love?