A lot of people take it for granted that when they turn on their hot water tap, a ready supply of hot water will come out, but someone with an older-style hot water pump system will be used to having to wait a little while for the cold water to heat. Hot water circulator pumps mean you never need to wait for your hot water. In this blog, we look at how hot water circulator pumps differ from traditional hot water systems and why many developers and residents choose them.
How Traditional Hot Water Systems Work
In older style hot water systems, when you turn on your hot water tap, the hot water has to travel from the tank to the faucet through a length of pipe. When the tap is turned off, the water remains in the pipe, where it loses temperature. The next time you turn on the tap, it is this cooled water that comes out first. The longer the length of pipe the water has to travel through, the longer you will need to wait for cool water to be expelled and for the hot water to arrive.
How Hot Water Circulator Pumps Work
A hot water circulator pump returns the hot water that is left in the pipe to the tank where it is reheated. This means that whenever you turn on the tap, the only water that comes out will be hot water fresh from the heating tank. To ensure there is always hot water in the pipes, the hot water circulator system automatically pumps hot water into your pipes at intervals throughout the day or whenever the water in the pipes falls below a certain temperature, meaning hot water is available immediately when you open the faucet.
Why Install a Hot Water Circulator System?
Aside from the obvious benefit of always having hot water on demand, a hot water circulator system saves the water that would otherwise be wasted while you wait for the hot water to reach the outlet. Over weeks and months, this can add up to a considerable amount of wasted water. A hot water circulator system does require electricity to power the automated components, but the amount of electricity used is generally minimal.
Compared to the water wasted in most traditional hot water systems, hot water circulator systems are usually considered more efficient, both in terms of financial cost and environmental impact. However, the exact savings, especially over the long term, can be difficult to calculate as they rely on many factors such as the length and width of the pipes, the age and type of metal from which they are made, and a number of other variables. The general consensus is that hot water circulator systems are at least as efficient as older style systems, but the main selling point for such systems is still the comfort and convenience they afford the end user.
Contact Aline Pumps Today
Our staff are always ready to help. If you’d like more information about Aline Pumps’ hot water circulator pumps or to speak to one of our expert team members about the requirements of your next project, visit the contact section of our website and get in touch by phone or email.
