Anyone install a hot water recirculating pump?

[Showkey]

Thanks guys.

The gravity systems are genius as they don't require mechanical components to function, but the cost of continually heating the water lines with no way to limit it to times of use is a major drawback. That system with a "smart" shutoff valve would be fantastic!

That makes sense until you actually look at the numbers...........


The cost is actually insignificant witha NG conventional tank heater. The pipes to the faucets are insulated, the return pipes are not. So the pipe in affect act as a slightly larger “tank”.

Actual cost to heat all the water in my home is $8-10 per month. So maybe the cost of the gravity system is .25 to .50 per month and maybe less. It might actually save money with less water run down the drain before the hot arrives. (Never bothered to calculate). The gravity system has instant hot water at every faucet. If you were to install pumps, switches, wires or other comptroller the pay back on those device would be 20-30 years. In the summer my fixed meter charge is twice the actual gas bill. Gas is $8, fixed meter charge is $16. An absolute bargain.

In ranch home the amount of water run to get to hot water to the faucet is a larger cost.......but the cost again is very very low.

 

[rharman]

Roger - can you explain the X-10 in a nutshell?

There are 3 components. 5 minutes or less to install.

X10 AM466 Appliance Module, 3-Prong $20
X10 HR12A PalmPad Remote Control (Battery powered keypad - we have one upstairs and one downstairs) $15 each
Compact Powerhouse X10 Plug-In RF Wireless Transceiver Module TM751 $20

The keypads will control up to 10 remote devices.

Pump plugs into the appliance module. The Transceiver is a wall wart with an antenna to pickup the keypad signal and feed it over the AC wiring to the end point - appliance module in our case.

This has worked really well for the last 6 years. Have saved literally thousands of $$$ on our electric bill.

Haven't added any devices other than the WH pump but always thinking of something.