The system does not waste water, it recirculates it.

The system does not waste water, it recirculates it.
by voidoid (2019-08-23 10:37:46)
Edited on 2019-08-23 10:49:22

In reply to: Can you clarify what you mean? posted by LondonDomer

You install the pump at the water heater, and small valve at the hot/cold supplies of your furthest plumbing fixture (which in your case sounds like the master bath sink.)

When the valve at the master sink senses that the hot water in the pipes has cooled, it will pull the warm water back to the water heater via the cold water supply, thereby re-filling the hot water pipes with hot supply from the heater. (Sorry, this is confusing to write out.)

The upside is that you will always have hot water house-wide. The downside is at the master sink, where the cold water will sometimes be lukewarm. We decided that this is a small price to pay for having quick hot water at all times.

Edit to add: The pump has a timer, so it doesn't have to operate 24/7. If you use it for peak times (mornings and evenings) it will use less juice from water heater.

Replies:

Building on this post.... - ndroman21 2019-08-23 10:54:08
- It sounds like the pump - LondonDomer 2019-08-23 11:02:15
  - Yes - the pump is basically the "DIY" version of the loop. - voidoid 2019-08-23 11:12:08
  - You need the line with either method. - ndroman21 2019-08-23 11:11:44
    - Not true - the pump re-circulates through the cold supply. - voidoid 2019-08-23 11:12:42
      - Hmmm, interesting. * - ndroman21 2019-08-23 11:16:46
      - Yeah, this is what I'm seeing. - LondonDomer 2019-08-23 11:14:25
        As a fellow resident of CT - voidoid 2019-08-23 11:17:09
        It's all but a done deal. I had no idea something like this - LondonDomer 2019-08-23 13:59:32
I'm definitely not concerned about wasted water - LondonDomer 2019-08-23 10:50:25