Water Heaters - hot water recirculator
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jay_myself
04-17-05, 03:24 PM
I had a undersink recirculator and removed it because it made the cold hot, necessitating a wait for cold. However, I did like the idea or hot water sooner so I plan to reinstall it.
There was a comment on this forum about running a pipe to the "bottom" of the water heater. Since the cold water goes down the dip tube to the bottom, I'm assuming all I have to to is tee into the cold supply to the tank.
Also, the only "bottom" connection on the tank is the drain valve. Could the suggesion of bringing the return line to the bottom mean to use the valve? I suppose I could unscrew the valve and make a tee into it, but that will take more work and I wonder if it will make any difference between there and on the cold supply side.
As it stands now, I plan to cut the cold supply and sweat in a tee to the 3/8 line which I'll have coming back from the recirculator pump.
There was a comment on this forum about running a pipe to the "bottom" of the water heater. Since the cold water goes down the dip tube to the bottom, I'm assuming all I have to to is tee into the cold supply to the tank.
Also, the only "bottom" connection on the tank is the drain valve. Could the suggesion of bringing the return line to the bottom mean to use the valve? I suppose I could unscrew the valve and make a tee into it, but that will take more work and I wonder if it will make any difference between there and on the cold supply side.
As it stands now, I plan to cut the cold supply and sweat in a tee to the 3/8 line which I'll have coming back from the recirculator pump.
lefty
04-17-05, 03:42 PM
Jay_myself,
You're assumption is correct. The dip tube is going to put the incoming water at the bottom of the tank if you run the recirc line into the cold water supply side. The only difference is that you'll need 2 check valves, as opposed to one if you run it in thru a tee at the drain valve.
Either way, you need one check valve in the recirc line to prevent water from going from the tank to the farthest valve in the house. If you tee into the cold supply side of the WH, you'll need a second to prevent water from the recirc line from going into the cold supply for the entire house.
You're assumption is correct. The dip tube is going to put the incoming water at the bottom of the tank if you run the recirc line into the cold water supply side. The only difference is that you'll need 2 check valves, as opposed to one if you run it in thru a tee at the drain valve.
Either way, you need one check valve in the recirc line to prevent water from going from the tank to the farthest valve in the house. If you tee into the cold supply side of the WH, you'll need a second to prevent water from the recirc line from going into the cold supply for the entire house.