Hot Water Recirculation Systems

What are you waiting for? Waiting for hot water wastes your time, water, and energy. Learn more about how hot water recirculation systems work and start enjoying the comfort of hot water instantly whenever you want it.

How Hot Water Recirculation Systems Work

Hot water recirculation systems work by circulating the water sitting in the hot water line (that has cooled) back to the water heater and replacing it with new fresh hot water from the water heater. This is done in seconds with a pump, eliminating the need to wait for hot water.

Benefits of Hot Water Recirculation Systems

With a Hot Water Recirculation System, you can benefit from water savings because there is no need to let water flow down the drain while waiting for it to heat. According to studies from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the average home wastes more than 3,650 gallons of water per year waiting for hot water to arrive at the point of use.1

On-Demand Systems

While there are a variety of systems available, we recommend On-Demand Systems for residential use. On-Demand Water Recirculating Systems are the most water and energy efficient recirculation systems, and only work when you want hot water. The hot water demand pump is activated instantly by pushing a button which activates the pump for several seconds to pump hot water from the water heater and send the cooled water back to the water heater through the cold water pipes. The pump then automatically shuts off when it detects hot water flowing through it, requiring minimal energy to run the pump since energy use is limited to the initial pumping of the hot water from the water heater. This is the most energy efficient type of system for a home.

Considerations

It’s important to do proper research to find the right system for your home. Below are resources for customers interested in hot water recirculation technology.

Please note: CCWD does not endorse any of these companies or the products they provide.

Resources


1Klein, Gary. “Hot-Water Distribution Systems Part 1.” Plumbing Systems & Design. Mar/Apr 2004