Hot Water Circulation SYSTEM EFFICIENCIES

 PROFIT-BASED ENGINEERED VS. EFFICIENCY-BASED ENGINEERED

PRICE-BASED ENGINEERED Comfort Valve Hot Water Circulators

According to nearly 100 trade professionals attending the 2006 Southern California PHCC trade show, homeowners with thermostatic valve circulation systems experience excessively high monthly gas bills and waiting for cold water.  A better understanding of these systems clearly identifies the costly inefficiencies inherent with these systems.  Comfort valve hot water circulators utilize a pump installed at the water heater connected to the hot water supply pipe. By design, these pumps must run continuously (continuous energy consumption) to prevent the "normally-open" thermostatic valve from opening. It should be noted that heater mounted pumps often have narrower connection fittings than the water heater's actual pipe reducing flow capacity and load fulfillment capabilities.

One owner of this type system stated; 

"I actually turned the circ pump off... otherwise I end up with very hot water on my cold side and it can take a minute or to to cool off."

Thermostatic comfort valves or sensor valves install under sinks connecting the homes hot and cold water lines together. Material within these valves expand and contract (open / close) depending on the temperature of the water contacting the valve. These "normally open" thermostatic valves close when 95F degree water contacts the valve, preventing hot water from entering the cold water lines.  This being true also means anytime less than 95F degree water contacts the valve the valve will be open. Any use of cold water, i.e. toilet flushing, watering lawn, etc. drops the water pressure in the cold water lines but, not the hot water lines. The higher pressure in the hot water line force's water to siphon through open thermostatic valves and into the cold water line even though you intended to only use cold water. Until 95F degree water from the water heater reaches and closes the valve the homeowner is left waiting for cold water. It's important to remember that any amount of water siphoned into the cold water line is instantly replaced at the water heater with very cold city water.  Thus, repeatedly placing significant needless additional demand on your water heater when using cold water. 

WATCH ANIMATION OF INEFFICIENT PASSIVE FLOW CONTROL

PASSIVE "Normally Open" THERMOSTATIC COMFORT VALVE

Comfort Valve in Default "Normally-Open" Position

Cold water use results in crossover siphoning due to the drop in water pressure throughout the cold water pipes. 

Users must wait for 95F degree water from the water heater to contact and close valve before receiving water exclusively from the cold water pipe.

EFFICIENCY/CONSUMER-BASED ENGINEERED HOT WATER CIRCULATOR

ReadyTemp's circulators were designed using strict engineering discipline targeting efficiency and comfort while refusing to sacrifice a consumer's quality of life by cutting corners. ReadyTemp circulators incorporate intelligent green control technology eliminating numerous inefficiencies found in other circulators. ReadyTemp is engineered with two distinctly separate flow controlling devices. A self-cleaning calcium proof, hard water friendly check valve and a silent-action stainless steel "normally closed" solenoid valve, preventing inefficient hot water line siphoning. ReadyTemp eliminates the noticeable discomfort, inconvenience and energy waste that occurs with thermostatic crossover valves and one-way check valves, minimizing demand on the water heater while maintaining greater cold-water comfort. Professionals and homeowners appreciate ReadyTemp's temperature-based cyclic pumping increasing pump and water heater life cycle while reducing energy consumption.

EFFICIENCY-BASED vs. PRICE-BASED ENGINEERED HOT WATER CIRCULATORS

*when less than 94F water leaves crossover valves open                 

A GREENER HOT WATER CIRCULATOR SYSTEM

• No long waits for hot water AND cold water comfort

• Only as needed pumping occurs

• Crossover flow controlled / no hot water line siphoning during cold water usage

• Owner selectable activating control type best matching their lifestyle (timer, motion sensor, push-button)

• Minimal pump operations through temperature based cyclic pumping reduces electrical consumption

• Provides off-scheduled convenience via single-cycle / on-demand operations

• Adjustable comfort temperature to optimize comfort and minimize water waste

• Receives temperature values from "water contacting" temperature sensor rather than a less accurate pipe clamp-on sensor

• Insulate hot water pipes to minimize heat loss

• Simplified installation saves on labor costs

• Optimize system settings to maximize performance and comfort

• No maintenance requirements (Calcium proof components to prevent calcium buildup, clog failures)