Water recirculatingpump

Hot-water recirculation dramatically reduces water waste. With time and temperature sensors, hot-water recirculation pumps can control when the recirculation kicks on, ensuring that energy is not constantly being wasted.

Some recirculation pumps can serve as a separate, add-on component that uses a dedicated pipe loop for hot-water recirculation.

Recirculation PUMPpiping Diagram

A hot-water recirculation system delivers hot water to a faucet, shower or appliance in seconds, eliminating the usual water-wasting wait. The system does so by recirculating the water that remained in the pipes and eventually turned cold, back to the water heater, through either the cold-water line or a dedicated return line.

Grundfosrecirculation pumpwith timer

Some hot-water recirculation pumps are built into the water heater itself. An integrated recirculation pump is ideal if your home lacks a dedicated return line, and you want to avoid the cost of adding one.

Recirculation pumpBell & Gossett

But once the outlet was shut off, the remaining warm water in the pipes did not return to the water heater for reheating. Instead, it stayed in the pipes and eventually turned cold. When the outlet was next turned on, this resting cold water exited the pipes first, ahead of the incoming hot water from the water heater.

This video shows how a hydronic radiant heating system works by heating the floor when a thermostat senses the drop in temperature. The heat from the floor warms the objects and people in the room, creating a more comfortable and even heating experience. The components on the system work together to keep the whole home heated by distributing the right temperature on each room.

So what’s the solution? Is it possible to get truly “instantaneous” hot water? Yes, with a hot-water recirculation system that delivers hot water with virtually no wait time.

A recirculation pump can operate 24/7. But the energy savings would be nonexistent if the external circulator were always on and continuously recirculating hot water.

Recirculation pumpinstallation

Radiant heating systems work by heating a surface, such as the floor, ceiling or walls. The heat from the surface is then radiated into the room, warming the objects and people in the room. Learn more about the benefits of radiant heat.

WCS is a simpler and more efficient alternative. It is a single point of contact for the entire heating system, including design, coordination, and shipment. All products were chosen and optimized to work in harmony for maximum peformance. Warmboard has designed the whole system, so they have the insights to answer any questions you may have.

The components of a radiant heating system change depending on the type of system, but most systems include the following components:

Whether you choose to install an external recirculation pump or go with a fully integrated system, the benefits for both are clear. A hot-water recirculation pump eliminates the need to wait for hot water by recirculating the water through your plumbing system, keeping hot water flowing and ready for the moment someone turns on the faucet or shower.

The most common installation for these heating systems is in-floor. There are two main types of radiant floor heating systems: hydronic and electric.

Not only is this inconvenient (and downright uncomfortable if you’re standing in the shower), but a typical American home annually wastes thousands of gallons of perfectly usable potable water down the drain, thanks to lengthy wait times at hot-water outlets in the bath and kitchen.

Another option is to purchase a “crossover kit” that is sold with the water heater and acts as a substitute for a return line.

Recirculation pumpwashing machine

One type of recirculation system — and the focus of this blog — is a closed-loop, pump-assisted, hot-water recirculation system.

So why does the water coming from your “hot”-water faucet or shower run cold at first before finally turning hot? When that outlet was last turned on, hot water flowed through the pipes, right?

It’s safe to say we’ve all experienced the inconvenience of having to wait for hot water to arrive at the faucet or shower — most of us every morning. You’ve probably grown accustomed to waiting several seconds or even a minute or two, depending on the distance to your bathroom or kitchen from your water heater in your basement, garage or utility closet on the opposite side of the house. The longer that distance, the longer the wait, the bigger the annoyance.

Recirculation pumpGrundfos

It is a type of heating system that warms objects directly, rather than warming the air. This makes them more efficient and comfortable than traditional forced-air heating systems.

Instead of wasting energy by having hot water flow through the system continuously, some water heaters have an integral display on the front of the unit that allows homeowners to program the recirculation system to operate at specified times.

Provide Warmboard with the floor plans for your project. Our in-house engineers will then perform a comprehensive heat loss analysis and make a customized design for you.

Recirculation pumpfor water heater

Here is an example of the components of the Warmboard Comfort System™,  a simpler, more efficient, and faster way to install a hydronic radiant in-floor heating system.

The most efficient “traditional” recirculation method would use a combination of both a temperature sensor and a timer to activate the system.

Both hydronic and electric heating systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. The best type of heating for your home depends on your individual needs and budget. If you are looking for the most efficient and comfortable radiant heating system, hydronic is the way to go for whole homes or large spaces.