A recirculation pump is one of the many components that will help you get the most from your tankless or traditional water heater. If you are reading this page, it means you either want to add a recirculation pumps to your water heater or have questions about your existing recirculation pump.
Our Long Beach Plumbers will explain what a recirculation pumps is and the differences between them in this blog. Our Long Beach Plumbers will also discuss the costs involved in purchasing a recirculation pumps and their benefits and drawbacks.
This will allow you to decide if a recirculation pumps is right for your needs or if you require a replacement.
What is a Recirculation Pump?
The recirculation pump, which is attached to your water heater, is designed to provide hot water immediately to all fixtures in your house.
The device pumps hot water through the hot water pipes, back to the heater via a “dedicated” line or through a cold line.
Some water heaters do not have a recirculation pumps. However, many technicians recommend having one in your tankless or traditional water heater to prevent water waste. You will need to wait longer for hot water to reach your fixtures without a recirculation pumps, which can lead to more water waste.
We’ve covered the basics of a recirculation pumps, now let’s get to the details!
What is a Recirculation Pump?
Recirculation pumps are an important part of hot water supply in your home or business, even though they may not be included in a tankless or conventional water heater. The water flows through cold water pipes when you turn on the faucet. You must wait for it to travel from your heater to the faucet before you can get hot water.
A recirculation pump keeps hot water moving through the plumbing system. Hot water is always available
You will need to have an additional pump and the dedicated line for units without recirculation pumps. You will also need a timer to turn on the recirculation pump with the traditional unit. It is expensive and can be very costly.
Different types of Recirculation Pumps
There’s three types of recirculation pumps.
- Pumps for basic recirculation
- Pumps for recirculation on-demand
- Temperature and time pumps
Pumps for basic recirculation
This is the simplest form of a basic recirculation pumps. It moves water through pipes and water heaters.
This option is for those who don’t have any specific needs but still want the recirculation pumps to their water heater.
Pumps on-demand
Only hot water is available to on-demand pumps when a person turns on the hot water supply in a shower, bathtub, or sink.
The on-demand pump will keep pushing hot water from the heater until it is switched off or the temperature is reached.
This option is recommended by our plumbers for those who don’t need hot water often but want to cut down on water costs.
Temperature and time pumps
Finally, temperature and time recirculation pumps are set to turn on at a particular time to pump water up until it reaches a specified temperature. The pump operates only when it is needed. This can help you save money and still provide hot water. This is a great option for anyone who is looking to cut down on water costs. We’ve already covered the basics of a recirculation pumps and discussed the various types. But you might be wondering, “How much will this cost?”
What is the Cost of a Recirculation Pump?
It can be difficult to price a recirculation pumps. Some tankless water heaters come with a recirculation system, while others do not.
The recirculation pump can be purchased for as little as $800. However, you will need to pay for proper installation which will increase the overall cost to $1,500 to $2,500.
Our plumbers can help you choose between a tankless or conventional heater that has a recirculation system. Although it is possible to purchase a recirculation pumps separately and have it installed, our technicians discovered that it can cause more problems and possibly even more expensive down the line.
If you buy a water heater that does not have a recirculation system and it breaks down, the water heater will need to be replaced along with the pump and fixtures. This will increase the price.
We have broken down the advantages and disadvantages of installing a recirculation pump to help you understand the potential problems and benefits.
Benefits and drawbacks of recirculation pumps
Benefits
No water wasted
A recirculation pump will ensure that you don’t waste water. It will run the water continuously until it reaches the desired temperature.
Lower wait
A recirculation pump will also reduce the time it takes for hot water to heat up. The pump gives you instant hot water.
Cost Savings
The recirculation pump can cut down on wait times and water consumption, which in turn saves money.
Drawbacks
Wear and tear
If you have an older system or water heater, the recirculation pumps can put additional strain on your plumbing system. If you have an older system or a water heater, the recirculation pumps could cause it to break, especially if your water heater is not maintained annually.
Hard water
A filter is necessary if you have hard water. Otherwise your recirculation pump could break. A filter is essential to prevent hard water from forming and damaging your water heater.
Are Recirculation pumps right for you?
A recirculation pump circulates hot hot water through the hot water pipes to your water heater, giving you instant hot water. Although they are usually inexpensive when installed in a conventional or tankless water heater, it is essential to extend the life of your heater. A recirculation pump is a waste of water. It will make it more difficult to heat your water and will cause you to wait longer before getting hot water.