How a Hot Water Recirculation Pump Works

Hot water recirculation pumps work by generating a continuous flow of hot water in your home’s hot water supply line. Systems are available for existing homes and new homes. For an existing home, a retrofit system will work with your cold water line at three points – pipe, pump, and valve (installed at the furthest fixture)– using the cold water line to create a return line. For new construction homes, a dedicated return line is installed and a circulator pump where the return line meets the hot water heater.

Three Major Benefits to Hot Water Recirculation Pumps:
1. Saving Money. Sending rivers of clean water down your drain every year simply isn’t cost-effective. A hot water recirculation system cuts back on water usage, which means savings on your water bill.
2. Convenience. Waiting for hot water is a pain. Hot water recirculation is becoming the standard for new construction homes for a reason: it’s a more pleasant, more efficient system
3. Conserving Water. As you probably know from various water conservation awareness campaigns, fresh water is a precious resource. Hot water recirculation is a cost-effective means of controlling water waste.

Recirculation Pumps

Frequent Asked Questions

What is a hot water recirculation pump? Hot water recirculation pumps are a convenient way to ensure that you have immediate hot water from the tap. These systems slowly pump hot water through your hot water pipes and back to the water heater through either a dedicated line or through the cold water line
Do you need a recirculation pump with your water heater? Faster Hot Water with Recirculation pump. With a dedicated return line, the pump simply recirculates water from the water heater through the line and back to the heater. If your home does not have a dedicated return line, which many do not, it can be very costly to add one.
How does WATTS retrofit recirculation pump work? The circulation pump houses a temperature sensor and a check valve that prevents water from entering the return line. The pump moves ambient-temperature water sitting in the line back to the water heater. The sensor lets the pump know when hot water has arrived at the farthest tap and shuts off the pump.
How much does it cost to install a Recirculation Pump? Depending on the model type, a recirculating pump will cost between $450 and $650.00.