Does Your Home Need To Get Hot Water Faster

Stop wasting water trying to get hot water  

When we want hot water, like most things, we want it now. The problem is that it takes time to travel the distance from your water heater to the plumbing fixture you’re trying to use. Crazy statistic, most US homes waste an average of 40 gallons of water a day waiting for water to get hot. That might not seem like a lot but when you multiply that by each home and then by how many homes are in the US it’s an astounding number. Living in a desert, most of us cherish the water that we’re able to use. We tend to have good habits like turning off the faucet when we’re brushing our teeth, using low gallon per minute shower heads and low gallon capacity toilets but waiting for hot water is still a thing for many homes in the Phoenix area. 

How To Get Hot Water Faster

To not waste water and get hot water faster, we must get hot water from point A to point B without turning on a plumbing fixture, but how? This requires the hot water to get to point B without turning on the faucet, the shower or what fixture you are trying to get hot water to. Getting hot water to a faucet without turning it on can seem impossible but it isn’t.

The only way to accomplish this is by having a system that moves the cold water in the line rather than letting it go down the drain with a recirculating pump. The benefits of moving the cold water from the hot line is less wasted water and HOT WATER FASTER. There are 2 ways the re-circulating pump accomplishes this. The pump does this by displacing the cold water in the hot line by pushing it into the cold-water line, or by re-circulating it back to the water heater with a dedicated re-circulation loop. 

Recirculating Pumps 

There are 3 main options when it comes to recirculating pumps.
(No – a tankless water heater will not get you hot water faster than a normal water heater without a recirculating pump)

Install a pump with a timer and crossover tees 

• Affordable option, upfront, but has its setbacks.

Install a pump with a button or motion sensor and crossover tees  

• Affordable option upfront, but also has its pros and cons.

Install a designated recirculating pump with a recirculating line 

• Permanent solution to getting hot water faster.

Recirculating pumps come in 3 different styles. All of them have their pros and cons. The bottom line is that getting hot water faster requires pumping water with a recirculating pump.   

Install a pump with a timer and a crossover tees 

• Recirculating pumps with a timer and crossover tee are recirculating pumps installed at the water heater. They are also installed in up to 3 crossover tees and different sinks throughout the house. It works by setting the timer to run when you are expecting to use hot water. When the pump is running the crossover tee displaces the cold water in the hot line. It does this by allowing it to be pushed into the cold line. When the crossover tee senses the water reach a higher temperature, it shuts off the flow of water. This is to stop it from putting hot water in the cold line. Different manufacturers go about their design differently, so the temp in which the crossover shut off will differ slightly. 

Pros and Cons of a Crossover Tee System

The pros of a timer and crossover tee system 

• Affordability, this option has the most affordable upfront cost.  
• No drywall repairs.  This option is not invasive for installation. It requires no drywall or secondary repairs for installation. 
• You will have hot water faster but only when the timer is on.  

The cons of a timer and crossover system 

• Maintenance – these systems require replacement of the crossover tee ever couple of years. When the tee fails hot water can enter the cold line giving you hot water everywhere, even your toilets. 
• Only 3 fixtures can tie into this system. So if you have multiple branched water lines, you’d like to quit wasting water or you’re going to be limited to the most important.  
• You may have to adjust the timer several times. It may take a while at first to get it set to your schedule to maximize the benefits. 
• If the timer is not running, you are still wasting time and water waiting for hot water.
• You will always end up with a little warm water in the cold-water line. 

 

Install a pump with a button or motion sensor and crossover tee 

• Recirculating pumps that have a button or motion sensor and crossover tee have a pump that is installed under the sink. Usually it’s under the kitchen and/or master bathroom sink. This style of system allows you to control when the pump works without messing with a timer.  If you go with the push button then it is pretty simple, you push the button and wait a few minutes for the pump to run. If you go with the motion sensor then you don’t have to do anything but walk with in the perimeter of the motion sensor and it will activate the pump. When the pump is activated, the crossover tee allows the cold water to be displaced. The cold water is then displaced into the hot water line the same as if you go with a timer system.  

 Pros of a pump with button or motion sensor and crossover tee 

• Affordability! This is the second most affordable option based on up-front costs.  
• No timer to mess with.
• No drywall repairs.  This option is not invasive for installation and won’t require any drywall repairs or secondary repairs for installation.  
• The motion sensor option is hands off after installation. 

Cons of a pump with dedicated crossover tees 

• Maintenance – these systems require replacement of the crossover tees every couple of years. When the tee fails hot water can enter the cold line giving you hot water everywhere, even your toilets.  
• One system per crossover tee. If you need multiple locations, then multiple systems are required. 
• The push button option does not save time, only water. 
• The motion sensor may or may not save you time.  

 

Install a designated recirculating pump with a recirculating line 

Recirculating pumps with a dedicated recirculating line are the ultimate solution to getting hot water faster. With a designated recirculating line, you don’t need crossover tees. Recirculating pumps are installed at the water heater. A water line is installed from the furthest fixture in your home to the water heater. The pump then pulls the cold water out of the hot line. Next, it brings it right back to the water heater to be heated again. Because the cold system is not tied in you can get HOT water immediately, not warm to almost hot. 

The pros of a dedicated recirculating loop 

• Affordability long-term. This option is a little more upfront than the other two options. It is more affordable through the lifespan of the system.   
• Timer or not to timer, the option is yours. Many of our clients choose to have a timer for the hours they are home or sleeping. This helps not to waste electricity or work the pump harder than it has to. But this option is yours. 
• Every line on the system gets hot water faster.  

 The Cons of a dedicated recirculating loop 

• Adding this system will require some drywall access. 
• Up front cost is higher than other options. 
• It’s possible there will be a fixture that requires a second loop. The second loop depends on your home’s plumbing system.

 

Hot water faster with tankless 

The ability to put a recirculation pump on a tankless water heater starts to get a little dicey. NOT all tankless water heaters can operate properly with a recirculation pump. Some manufacturers will void a warranty on certain models if you install a recirculation pump.  

If you are considering getting a tankless water heater, then make sure it can handle a recirculation pump or the best option would be to install a unit that has a built-in pump. Even if you are not using it immediately, having the pump built in and waiting is the best option for a tankless. If the tankless has a built-in pump it will operate better too since the tankless talks too and controls the pump. Most tankless with an internal pump can operate both dedicated and non-dedicated recirculation lines. 

Services in Phoenix & Beyond

When you’ve found yourself in need of plumbing services in the Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, or Chandler area, you can trust Robins Plumbing.  We will provide you with prompt and expert care.  Contact our team today! Along with our water heater services, we also offer a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services. Our services include: drain cleaning, water heater repair and replacement, sewer camera inspection and locating, backflow prevention, commercial and residential jetting, water treatments, and more. Visit our reviews online to see what others have to say about our local plumbing company!