What is Instant Hot water?

A hot water recirculation system circulates the hot water in your home so that when you open a fixture the water is warm immediately. There is no need to run water down the drain waiting for hot water to arrive.

Hot water recirculation systems save water, energy and money; the average family of four wastes up to 17,000 gallons of water per year just waiting for hot water to arrive. A hot water recirculation system eliminates this waste, and provides the luxury and convenience of instant hot water. A hot water recirculation system pays for itself through reduced water and sewer charges and reduced water heating costs. As a general rule of thumb a hot water recirculation system will pay for itself if you have to wait 30 seconds or more for hot water to arrive at the fixture.

There are two ways to incorporate a hot water recirculation system into you home, a conventional system with a dedicated return line or an under the sink retrofit system which uses your existing plumbing and no return line is required.

A conventional system is typically a new construction item installed when you are building a home.

The under the sink retrofit systems were designed for existing home applications; since they can easily adapt to your existing plumbing without the need to install a dedicated return line, however these systems can also be used in new construction applications.

It is generally recommended that if you have the ability to install a conventional system with a dedicated return line that this is the best way to go. If you can not or choose not to install a return line the under the sink units are a viable alternative.