Can you put a recirculating pump on a heat pump water heater?

Plumbing was set up to use a recirculating pump. About to purchase a heat pump water heater until I saw this on the AO Smith literature. “In order to optimize efficiency of this unit, it is not recommended for use with a recirculation loop. Using this in a recirculation loop may cause the unit to run excessively.”

How do you hook up a recirculating pump to a water heater?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The hot water discharge line coming out of the water heater insert a gasket into the female fitting on the recirculating pump. And screw it onto the threads of the water heater discharge.

How does a recirculating pump work on a hot water heater?

Full Recirculating Pump System



This system creates a loop from the water heater to the faucet and back again. The unused hot water is drawn back through this loop by the pump, so when you turn on your hot water faucets, you get hot water quickly.

Are recirculating pumps bad for pipes?

High velocity due to an oversized pump is the number-one cause of pinhole leaks in recirculation pipes. In addition, when the city water company adds chlorine to the water, it becomes worse. Chlorine is a disinfectant added to water to kill bacteria. However, it is kryptonite to piping—all kinds of piping.

Is a recirculating pump worth it?

A hot water recirculating pump will save you money, especially if you have a larger family. A family of 4 with normal water usage can expect to save $50-$75 a year. Since pumps cost about $200 each, the recirculating pump will pay for itself in 3-4 years. .

Will a recirculating pump work with a tankless water heater?





A water heater and pump combined or separate. This can be a tankless water heater with an integrated recirculation pump or a water heater and an external pump. The Rheem RTGH is one of example of a unit with a built-in recirculation pump.

Where should a recirculating pump be installed?

There are two main components to an effective hot water recirculating system: the recirculating pump installed on the hot water discharge line of your home’s water heater, and the sensor valve installed on the supply lines of a faucet at the farthest distance from the water heater.

How much is a hot water recirculating pump?

between $200 and $250 each

With the average national cost of water rising rapidly, a hot water recirculation pump could easily save you upwards of $50 each year. Since these pumps cost between $200 and $250 each, you could pay back the investment within a couple of years.

Will a hot water recirculating pump keep pipes from freezing?



Install hot water recirculating pump.



Installing a hot water recirculation system helps ensure that you always have hot water in your taps and prevents pipes from freezing during the winter.

How long do recirculating pumps last?

How Long Do Recirculating Pumps Last? Most pumps – assuming you did not get a lemon – will last 10 to 15 years. The biggest factors that impact their life expectancy are the amount of water you use every day and the quality of the manufacturing.

How often should recirculating pump run?

Without a timer on the recirc pump it will run 24/7



From an energy/cost perspective, the most efficient way to use a recirc pump is to have it run for just a few minutes ONLY before hot water is needed. Any other times it’s left running is wasting energy and costing money.

How do I circulate the hot water in my house?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Building you need to install a thing called a recirculation. Line now a recirculation. Line is a separate pipe that runs off the hot water line out at the farthest fixture.

What is a recirculating hot water heater?

A hot water recirculation system is a plumbing system that moves hot water to fixtures quickly without waiting for the water to get hot. Rather than relying on low water pressure, common in most water lines, recirculating systems rapidly move water from a water heater to the fixtures.

Does a recirculating pump need a check valve?

Whenever a zone connects to the main piping in the recirculation system, a check valve is required. A proper design will have a flow control valve installed at the end of the zone to regulate how much water goes through that zone.

Do I need an expansion tank with a recirculating pump?

The expansion tank is required for a recirculating (closed) loop. Connect the Thermal Expansion Tank (available at your local plumbing supplier) to the cold water supply line near the water heater. The expansion tank contains a bladder and an air charge.

How do circulating water pumps work?



By adding a circulator pump, water is circulated through the cool pipes from the heater to the farthest fixture. The cool water is circulated back to the heater via the cold-water line, and no water is wasted during the wait. The energy use of the circulation pump is less than operating a 25-watt light bulb.

Where is check valve on recirculating pump?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Back up against the water from the pump. So basically what that pump does is it draws water from. The line in that. So where that orange handled valve is near the wall.

Why is my recirculating pump not working?

Circulator pumps can stop working for several reasons: a blown fuse, bad wiring or a dead motor. Troubleshooting the possible causes in a systematic manner ensures you can find the reason your circulator pump isn’t working so you can get it back up and running as soon as possible.

How does a recirculating pump valve work?

Hot water recirculation pumps use a special valve with a temperature sensor installed at the farthest sink called a sensor valve. The valve opens and closes which turns the pump on. You can have additional control over the recirculating pump by using a timer or a switch so it will only turn on when you are home.