Wanting hot water fast... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

orson · 02-06-2009, 08:41 PM

On a second story bathroom that is at the opposite end of the house from the water heater, in order to get hot water fast woud you:

A. Run a passive recirculation loop

B. Run a recirculation loop with a pump

C. Install a 30gal water heater near the bathroom to supply it

D. Install an on demand water heater near the bathroom to supply it.

E. None of the Above

F. All of the Above

G. Call your plumber you &%#!ing !%#@ bag mother#@*!er

If you answered A or B, what if it were overly difficult to get another waterline to the bathroom for a recirculation loop?

threaderman · 02-06-2009, 08:55 PM

Put in a wtr htr,30 gal cost more than a 40 so put in a 40 gal electric.You'll have to find a place to run your pan drain.If you know where your water is you got it licked.

KillerToiletSpider · 02-06-2009, 08:57 PM

I have to answer G to keep Malco happy, if I try and answer you GC's questions he goes into a tizzy.

Is Malco gone?

A pumped return would be your most effecient answer, gravity returns work well if you have a single common plumbing wall, not so much if their is a lot of horizontal travel.

HWCostruction · 02-06-2009, 10:08 PM

B or C. That's my story and I'm stickin to it. How close to that bath could you get another line? Would it be enough to considerably cut down on the wait time for hot water? How is your plumbing now? I've seen older homes that had extra plumbing in them. What I mean is that over the years a line was added hear and then moved there and then back there so that by the time you actually need to go 6 feet there is an extra 30 feet of pipe to travel through.

Ron The Plumber · 02-07-2009, 12:04 AM

Lets see, I say do that one.

jayson22 · 02-07-2009, 02:51 PM

I would say C may be your most cost effective, but if you say there may be difficulties running water lines, that may cancel that idea out. A pump can be put on a timer and only circulate during times of high demand.
How much work are you talking about if you did attempt to run another water line to the fixtures?

neolitic · 02-07-2009, 04:07 PM

There are some shorty 40 gallon
electrics, so you only lose ½ a
linen closet.

orson · 02-07-2009, 05:59 PM

Not sure how difficult it is going to be to get a return line in yet, I'm going to look at the job in a couple of weeks and wanted to do a little research before going in.

So as far as energy efficiency a recirculation loop with a timed pump is the way to go?

PS- for the record I will be discussing this with my plumber after I look at the job, I just like varied opinions going in.

Ron The Plumber · 02-07-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orson

PS- for the record I will be discussing this with my plumber after I look at the job, I just like varied opinions going in.

You say this as if we the plumbers on here are going to drill you.

Yes a timer recirc is the way to go.

neolitic · 02-07-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron The Plumber

You say this as if we the plumbers on here are going to drill you.

Yes a timer recirc is the way to go.

He's been here a little while.
He's not used to the kinder
gentler cat.

KillerToiletSpider · 02-08-2009, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orson

Not sure how difficult it is going to be to get a return line in yet, I'm going to look at the job in a couple of weeks and wanted to do a little research before going in.

So as far as energy efficiency a recirculation loop with a timed pump is the way to go?

I am not a fan of timers, because people never bother to reprogram them or alter them, they just bypass the timer and leave it run all the time. I prefer a pump system set up with a flow switch that turns the pump on and off as needed, the initial cost is more, but the end result is a more effiecient system.

mrmike · 02-08-2009, 08:17 AM

D. On demand would be a great choice if you can get at least a #6 awg wire up there.

SLSTech · 02-08-2009, 10:49 AM

Seeing the plumbers aren't yelling about electricians, GC'c, etc... posting

I would say it depends on whose bath it is, the fixtures in it & yes the routing of all those lines is also a factor

Is it a master bath? If so they may lean more towards an on demand system, unlimited Hot water, etc...

If it is a kids bath the hot water heater may be an idea

A guest bath I would probably go with either an on demand system or a recirc system that can be kicked on before you turn on the water - press a button & it recirculates. You may want to avoid that & maybe go with one that kicks on when the light is turned on or a motion sensor enabled one.

A passive loop guarantees you that you are burning more energy as it is always running, heating up the area's it is in & cooling the water as it goes forcing the WH to kick on more often.