Hot Water Circulating Loop

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thompsdw

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Hello everyone. We are moving to a different home and I am going to loose one of my favorite current home features. Our hot water circulation loop. Hot water is always very quick at nearly every faucet in our current home. The new home doesn't have one. I have yet to investigate if I can make surgical cuts in the basement ceiling and add one, but I wanted to get some advice on if there are any alternatives? I heard sometime ago about a device that passes hot water from the hot to the cold side of the faucet with a pump (Aquamotion). Do these work? Are there any other options, or is retrofit my only choice?
 
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Simple reply, furthest fixture needs a tee into hot line, and ran back to water heater with circ pump.
Need a layout of how hot water pipe is ran.

Then we can help.
I'm not a fan of those cross from hot to cold pump. The true circulation loop is best
 
Grundfos, Taco, and Watts all make recirculation pump systems that work without a dedicated return line. Grundfos version is home comfort system. Dedicated is best but these work decent. Side effect is cold water will be warm when first opened.
 
Thank you. I have bookmarked the Grundfos system. That is the one I currently have on my home. Ya know, I always thought I had a dedicated return line, but one of my faucets is always warm on the cold side. Interesting. If I don't have a plumbing diagram, I guess I could go to every faucet before I install the unit and time how long it take to get to a set temperature. I could obviously start with those that appear the furthest away from the water heater.

Is that a good idea or is there a better way?
 
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You install the comfort valve on the furthest fixture from the water heater unit. Connectz to hot and cold supplies under the sink/fixture. Then pump goes on the hot water side outlet of the water heater. Cold water will be luke warm for 10-20 seconds depending on property.
 
I've been really happy with my Grundfos recirc system with the comfort valve at my farthest hot water connection. Ironically, it is physically closest to the water heater, but the farthest fixture when following the copper lines.
 
Rossando said:
You install the comfort valve on the furthest fixture from the water heater unit. Connectz to hot and cold supplies under the sink/fixture. Then pump goes on the hot water side outlet of the water heater. Cold water will be luke warm for 10-20 seconds depending on property.
Click to expand...

Got it. Does the comfort valve have a thermostatic valve in it or does it bypass all the time? Just for my knowledge.
 
havasu said:
I've been really happy with my Grundfos recirc system with the comfort valve at my farthest hot water connection. Ironically, it is physically closest to the water heater, but the farthest fixture when following the copper lines.
Click to expand...

I wish I had the ability to see the bones of this new home, but it is all covered up. Thats why the idea to time the water to 100 F (for example) and install it on that faucet. The owner told me the kitchen takes forever to warm up. We shall see!
 
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