Expert: speedball1 - 7/12/2004

Question
1. Thanks! I'll rate you. Do you know anything about water softeners, specifically old ones? If so, I'll submit another question about my ancient (might be 1956) Sears softener and iron removal.  

2. Some diagrams I've seen recommend recirculating back to the drain valve, but I'd rather do it your way and tee into the feed. I'd be afraid of stirring up sediment and flushing more of it into the hot water line by recirc into the drain cock. You see no drawback to just cutting into the cold water feed into the heater?

Thanks again.


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Followup To
Question -
I'm really tired of wating for the hot water to heat up in the morning. I've got timers and a JCI staging thermal controller just sitting here, and I can sweat copper. So I want to install a low-volume circulating pump on a timer with a thermostat to run water from just under the bathroom sink, which is the most distant point from the water heater, to a tee a few feet in front of the water heater, on the cold water line going into it. Is that allowed by code in most places? or should I tee into the heater drain cock at the bottom instead? My biggest problem is knowing what kind of pump to get, what gpm rating to look for,and where to find one. Do I have to have a check valve in place as well? I would probably use half inch or smaller copper; the rest of the plumbing is 3/4".
Answer -
Good morning Tom, You will cut a 1/2" tee ahead of the shutoff valve into the cold water line of your heater and attach a 1/2" recirculating pump off it.  Next run a 1/2" line to the farthest fixture in the system and tee that into the hot water side.  No check valve is needed. The flow will run from the fixture back to the cold water inlet of the heater.  Let me help you out a bit on your selection.  Click on http://www.lainginc.com/howhot.htm  to view a typical hook up and check out a few pumps.  For more, simply type in water heater recirculating pumps on your search bar and take your pick.  More questions?  I'm as close as a click.  Good luck and thank you for rating my reply.  Tom

Answer
Hi Tom,  Welcome back.  I can see no drawback there I*'ve hooked them up both ways since they all go to the same place.  Directly to the bottom of the tank.  The hookup will go like this. From the pump, hot water to the farthest fixture.  From there cooler water will recirculate back to the tee cut into the cold water feed.  From there it will enter a plastic "dip tube" that directs cold water to the bottom  of the tank.  This drop in temperature kicks on the lower element that heats the water.  The water raises, enters the pump and it all starts over again.  However, the tee cut in the feed line was the easiest tie-back for me.   Good luck,  Tom