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-   -   Hot Water Return (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=724133)

  • Dec 23, 2012, 04:18 PM
    6kids
    Hot Water Return
    can youtee off the furthest hot water line back to the hot water heater,with a return line andteeoff at bottom of water heater to circulate the water ,so you have hot water at all values without waiting
  • Dec 24, 2012, 06:33 AM
    massplumber2008
    Hi 6kids

    You sure can and here is a link to a great article discussing a gravity feed recirc. Line like you are suggesting:

    How Does a Gravity Hot Water Recirculation Loop Work? | DoItYourself.com

    They also make pumps for recirc. Lines but I'd try the gravity system first... should work very well in most cases.

    Mark
  • Dec 24, 2012, 08:09 AM
    speedball1
    1 Attachment(s)
    Hi Kid and welcome to The Plumbing Page at ANHD.com. You're responding to a 3 year old dead threads so I gave you one of your own. Please check the date before you post. Thanks
    Great answer by Mark! And here's what it looks like. Good luck, Tom
  • Dec 24, 2012, 11:09 AM
    hkstroud
    I have a gravity recirculation system and can say that it works, at least to an extent. However, I suggest that the recirculation return line be pipe into the cold water input line (along with appropriate check valves), rather than into the drain valve location. Will work better that way and is easier to do.
  • Dec 24, 2012, 12:26 PM
    mygirlsdad77
    On a gravity recirc system, it will actually circulate better if the return is piped into the bottom of the water heater. If a pump is used, either the cold inlet or the bottom of the heater works just fine, with correctly placed checks of course.
  • Dec 24, 2012, 12:37 PM
    hkstroud
    Quote:

    it will actually circulate better if the return is piped into the bottom of the water heater
    Why? The dip tube takes all input to the bottom of the tank where the drain valve is anyway and there is specific, identifiable advantage to taking the return to the cold water input.
  • Dec 24, 2012, 12:44 PM
    mygirlsdad77
    Heat rises, so the hot return would have to fight the hot water at the top of the tank to get down the dip tube to the cooler portion of the tank. It will work, but not as effectively as piping the return into the bottom/cooler portion of the tank. Or have I been misinformed? Ive been wrong before, but is sounds logical to me.
  • Dec 24, 2012, 12:55 PM
    massplumber2008
    Nope... spot on Lee... ;)
  • Dec 24, 2012, 01:09 PM
    mygirlsdad77
    Thanks Mark. I thought so.
  • Dec 24, 2012, 01:21 PM
    hkstroud
    But..

    As temperatures in the piping equalize (during non use), the amount of water circulating gradually reduces and the system seems to stop after a period. If the return is piped into cold water input, the use of hot water anywhere, even if it is not in the loop, brings make up water past point of the return piping, that siphons water from the return piping and restarts the circulating.

    I'll concede that the return water gets heated buy the surrounding hot water as it makes its way down the dip tube and that is a detriment.
    First thing in the morning my system has stop circulating. Open the kitchen faucet, which is not in the loop, and hot water is available at the upstairs bath faucet.

    Normal activities keep it working during the day.
  • Dec 24, 2012, 02:43 PM
    mygirlsdad77
    Can't argue with you on that. This is the reason I said it will work, just not as effectively as if piped into the bottom. Either way, it sure beats no recirc at all on systems with fixtures located long distances from the water heater. Good discussion here Harold. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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