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Recirculation
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 Hot
water re-circulation system with
timer turned offCold water available immediately, but wait for hot water. Water- savings estimate of 15,000 gallon per year is promotional foolery: this amount equals 41 gallons per day or 2 full bathtubs of water per day. Test your home: put empty gallon can under tub spout and see how much water is wasted waiting for hot water. Use water for plants. |
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Re-circulation system
with timer turned on. Hot water available, but wait for cold water. Timer saves energy compared with recirculation system that runs full time. Autocirc uses timer, but also turns off when temperature reaches 95, and turns on when water drops to 85.
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| Choose between 'Timed' operation or 'Thermostatic' operation using slide switch located below timer dial. For Thermostat operation, slide switch to ON. For Timed operation, slide switch to Timer. To turn off the system, slide switch to OFF General guide for setting timer | Timer or thermostat? The timer will save money. While thermostat operation runs throughout the day. | ||||||
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| How
much does it cost to operate recirculation pump? Using the timer and running Autocirc 1 hour a day costs between $11 and $17 per year to operate. Run autocirc 2 hours a day is $22-34 per year. Run 12 hours a day costs $11-17 per month, or $132-204 per year. This includes pump operation and additional time that water heater operates. See calculations |
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recirculation pump work on Tankless heater? Yes if you select correct recirculation pump. Tankless water heaters require minimum flow rate to activate burner, so more powerful recirculation pump is needed. Laing UCT-909 Tankless AutoCirc is used for Tankless At Amazon Product Sell Sheet and specs Grundfros RCP-96 Recirculation pump for Tankless 145 psi.; 0-25 GPM At Faucet Depot Read tankless manual thoroughly for minimum flow rate since flow rate appears in every tankless troubleshooting section. Flow rate and performance figures apply only when Tankless unit is new. Tankless cannot be exposed to hard water or parts will fail. As tankless ages, expect problems that are difficult to diagnose and expensive to repair. Re-circulation pumps are also susceptible to hard water and affects of age. Read Bradford White side-by-side tankless vs tankless test results: "Tankless falls short of payback and cannot be exposed to hard water.' Read ConsumerReports.org side-by-side test results Read Common problems with tankless water heaters Pro-n-con tankless heater Read research pdf on Tankless/Tank efficiencies and softened water: Tankless cannot be exposed to hard water or parts fail 2 years. |
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| Hot
water options > for localized sink |
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| Immersion heater Objective: now guests can stay in the barn Put 120V electric heater in bucket of water > makes 150° hot water |
Insinkerator Hot Water Dispenser Objective: save water, save energy Point of use hot water Kohler, Sunbeam, Franke, KitchenAid, Panasonic Others |
Pot heater Objective: Fill pot for hot water at any sink 12" tall heater heats plugs into 115V outlet Dispenses 2-3 liters hot water into cup or sink Use switch or timer |
Hubbell
point of use Objective: save water and money 115 Volt, 2-1/2 Gallon point of use heaters available at most home centers Connect heater to cold water line Use switch or timer |
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 Programmable water heater timer on wall |
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| Demand pump: D'MAND Taco.com Objective: Water circulates to faucet quickly when activated |
Demand
pump: Chilipepper Objective: Water circulates to faucet quickly when activated |
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| Check if Demand Pump gets hot. I have not checked this. Advertised as 1/3 HP implying 230Watts ... which is same as having 2-100 Watt light bulbs under sink near flammable materials. Also advertised as 60 psi, question if supply tubes will hold up long-term. Read comparison |  Anode rods |
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| How
much does it cost to operate Autocirc? Using the timer and running Autocirc 1 hour a day costs between $11 and $17 per year to operate. Run autocirc 2 hours a day is $22-34 per year. Run 12 hours a day costs $11-17 per month, or $132-204 per year. This includes pump operation and additional time that water heater operates. |
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| Calculate
cost of running recirculation system Autocirc is 33 watts each time motor operates Timer runs 2 half-hour periods per day > yearly cost for re-circulation is $11-17 at Today's Rates Two factors affect cost: 1) Pump cost: Pump uses approx 30 Watts = .030 Kw Pump runs 1 hour per day = .030 Kwh per day 365 days x .030 Kwh = 10.95 Kwh per year 10.95 Kwh x Todays Rate 10¢ per Kwh (expect 30¢ tomorrow)= $1.95 per year 2) Water heater cost from re-heating water: Amount of water: 1.2 gallons per 100 ft 1/2'" pipe (see calculation to right) Amount of wasted heat: Hot water travels to faucet anyway, so waste equals return length of pipe Exact calculation would factor insulation, temperature of water, effect of home HVAC, efficiency of water heater, water heater thermostat setting, cost of energy. Additional water heater Cost: Reheating 1-2 gallons uses .2 Kwh of electricity per event See chart 2 events per day x .2 Kwh x 365 days per year = 146 Kwh per year 146 Kwh x 10¢ per Kwh = $15 per year for electric heater, $9 for gas So $9-15 per year for reheating + $2 to run pump = $11-17 per year for re-circulation system that runs 1 hour per day assuming new equipment and optimal conditions, and today's low energy prices. Read more |
Calculate
gallons inside 100' pipe: 1 gallon = 231 cu inches Inner diameter of 1/2 pipe .54" so r radius = .27" Area = πr² A = 3.14 x .27 x .27 = .229 sq in 100 ft = 1200 in 1200 in x .229 sq in = 274 cu in 274 cu in ÷ 231 cu in per gallon = 1.2 gal 3/4" pipe: r radius .37" A = 3.14 x .37 x .37 = .429 sq in 100 ft = 1200 in 1200 in x .429 sq in = 514 cu in 514 cu in ÷ 231 cu in per gallon = 2.2 gal |
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