Pleasanton Recirculation Pumps
Speak To A Water Heater Expert 24/7 At
(925) 449-4996
The State of California seems to constantly be in a water crisis and here in Pleasanton we are always trying to find a way to conserve water. At first, it seemed like our only hope for saving water was to take large buckets and let the cold water run into them until the water was at a satisfactory temperature. That was up until the recirculation pump. The recirculation pump allows the once-hot water that was flowing through your pipes to then re-enter your water heater so it will not go to waste.
Top Reasons To Install A Recirculation Pump
- Nearly Instant Hot Water
- Savings On Water Bill
- Good For Environment
When it comes to choosing a circulation pump for your water heater, it is important to have some knowledge of the type of plumbing you have in your home. For example, whether or not you have a dedicated loop, because this will dictate what type of circulation pump we will be installing. Generally, newer homes will have a dedicated loop plumbed in, and older homes generally will need an integrated loop solution. However, if you are unsure if you have a dedicated loop, also known as a return line, in your home, you could always give us a call 24/7 and we can have a water heater professional help you choose what is best for your home!
Here’s a brief breakdown of the two types of plumbing that influence how the circulation pump works.
Dedicated Loop – With this loop, hot water is routed directly to each appliance that requires hot water. Then the hot water that has then turned cold is then sent back to the water heater via a dedicated line from the furthest appliance away from the water heater and it is reintroduced to the water heater on either the cold side or the bottom drain inlet. After going through the pump to the water heater to get reheated. What does this mean, the pump does not heat water? It just means that the water must be pumped back through the water heater so it could be reheated.
Installing this specialized dedicated loop is generally best done when the home is being built. Choosing to go this route would require a plumber to come out to and evaluate if a return line can be added to your existing plumbing, then quote the cost to do so. If you have a crawl space below the home or attic space above the home, sometimes a return line can be added. However, this is more costly than if it had been installed during initial construction. A dedicated return line with a circulation pump will always work better than an integrated loop-type system.
Integrated Loop – This is the type of loop system that we most often need to use in the homes that we work with. This is because there was not an existing return line plumbed into the home, during the initial construction. In this type of system, we will need to make use of the existing plumbing on the cold side. This option is popular because a dedicated return line is not needed. However this type of system does not work the same or as well as a dedicated loop system, but it is frequently the only option unless one wants to completely retrofit their plumbing system.
Here the circulation pump is generally installed at the furthest appliance that requires hot water and will use the existing cold side plumbing to “loop” the hot water. These models will generally have a timer or a switch that you can press, that will begin the water recirculating and thus these are called on-demand pumps. The cold water in your pipes will get sucked back to the water heater via the cold line and fresh hot water will be brought right to the front of all of your fixtures. The recirculation pump knows when to stop pumping water back into the tank by a sensor valve that is installed underneath the sink and once the valve senses a certain temperature it will turn off and your appliance is ready for use. Or you could have the circulation pump installed at the water heater, and you can set the system to circulate at whichever times you select via a timer.
If you are interested in getting a recirculation pump installed in your home or have further questions about how it works, give us a call at (925) 449-4996. Our phone staff is available 24/7 to answer any and all of your water heater questions and schedule a technician to come out to your home and properly assess the situation. We look forward to hearing from you!
