Do Not Display
Waiting for hot water can be a real nuisance, especially during Broken Arrow's chilly winters. A water recirculator gets hot water to your faucet fast, saving you time and water.
How a Water Recirculator Works
When you turn on a faucet far from your water heater, you could wait more than a minute for hot water to reach you. That's inconvenient and a waste of water. A hot-water recirculating pump can solve this problem. A small device that fits under the sink farthest from your water heater, a recirculator continuously pumps hot water back and forth between the water heater and the faucet. Cold water sitting in your pipes moves back to the water heater for rewarming and hot water moves toward the faucet so it's ready whenever you need it. Two types of recirculators are commonly available.
Full recirculating pump. This system requires that an additional hot-water line be installed in your plumbing system. A separate line prevents the unwanted mixing of hot and cold water.
Comfort-pump system. This system uses your existing cold-water pipe to move unused cold water back to the water heater. It costs less, and it's easier to install.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Water Recirculator
In addition to enjoying greater convenience, you'll also be saving water. That's a big plus during droughts, and it keeps your water bill low year-round. While these pumps use electricity, many include programmable timers and sensors that let you run them only when you most need them. They can be turned off at night and while you're at work. If you don't have an outlet under your sink, though, you'll need to install one.
The purchase cost and installation requirements of a full recirculating pump mean comfort-pump systems are more practical for most homeowners. The downside of these systems is that you'll have hot water in your cold-water line, so you might need to run the faucet a bit to get cold water.
Thinking about adding a water recirculator to your home? Contact us at Air Assurance from anywhere around Broken Arrow.