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Point of Use vs. Recirculating Pump for Hot Water?

Posted on 11/11/14 at 9:05 am
Posted by Quigley
Down Under
Member since Jul 2009
4007 posts
Posted on 11/11/14 at 9:05 am
Anyone know about the pros/cons of recirculating pumps vs. point of use water heaters?

In laws have a gas tankless water heater for their home that works great once it gets going, but they're having to wait a long time to get hot water to the far side of the house where the kitchen and guest bath are located. They're looking into pumps and pou systems, but we don't anything about them. Think their electrical service is 200 amps

Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
69350 posts
Posted on 11/11/14 at 9:07 am to
how long is a long time?
This is the downside of tankless heaters.
Most would add in a point of use, I'm less familiar with recirculating pumps. But if it keeps the water always hot in the pipes that will be very expensive.
Posted by tigeraddict
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2007
11869 posts
Posted on 11/11/14 at 9:25 am to
For a recirculating system you will need rework how the hot water is distributed. you will need a hot water return line back to the pump/water heater. Depending on how the house is piped this can be easy or near impossible without major rework. IF your hot water is looped under the slab to each fixture, then you will need to get into the walls and run a return line up to the attic and back to the heater, collecting each fixture as you go back.

you need to make a loop. the loop will always be hot, and the distance from the loop will determine how long it takes to get hot water.

if you get a POU and place it under your sink, you will need to add a restrictor into the aerator to reducre flow in order to give the heater time to raise the temp. for a 120V outlet, you can get a 3.5kW unit.

with a 3.5kW heater you get less then 0.5 GPM with a 50 degree temp rise (60 - 110)
Posted by piratedude
baton rouge
Member since Oct 2009
2519 posts
Posted on 11/11/14 at 9:34 am to
since there is no tank, a recirculating pump would just recirculate cold water, or if it pumps through the heater, it would run almost constantly. one way does nothing for you and the other defeats the economy of a tankless.
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