Hot water recirculating pump with dedicated return line

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The AquaMotion AMH2K-7 is designed for plumbing systems with a dedicated return line and a hot water tank (non-tankless). The pump installs into the dedicated return line at the hot water heater. It's a fully automatic stainless union pump with an Aquastat/switch, built-in timer and long tail pieces for mounting. Meets Title 24 in California. Good for up to 250 feet of pipe length. This kit has a timer for activation.

The AMH2K-7N is an on-demand version of the AMH2K-7 model system and does NOT have a timer. On-demand gives you the ability to control system activation through a switch or motion sensor. When activated, the pump shuts off after 5 minutes or when the water temperature reaches 105 F.  Additional on-demand switches, motion sensors, etc (AMK- parts below) have to be purchased to activate the pump.

How a Hot Water Recirculation Pump Works

Hot water recirculation pumps work by generating a continuous flow of hot water in your home’s hot water supply line. Systems are available for existing homes and new homes. For an existing home, a retrofit system will work with your cold water line at three points – pipe, pump, and valve (installed at the furthest fixture)– using the cold water line to create a return line. For new construction homes, a dedicated return line is installed and a circulator pump where the return line meets the hot water heater.

Three Major Benefits to Hot Water Recirculation Pumps:
1. Saving Money. Sending rivers of clean water down your drain every year simply isn’t cost-effective. A hot water recirculation system cuts back on water usage, which means savings on your water bill.
2. Convenience. Waiting for hot water is a pain. Hot water recirculation is becoming the standard for new construction homes for a reason: it’s a more pleasant, more efficient system
3. Conserving Water. As you probably know from various water conservation awareness campaigns, fresh water is a precious resource. Hot water recirculation is a cost-effective means of controlling water waste.

Depending on the size of your home and the length of the plumbing pipes, some fixtures may require several minutes before hot water arrives from a water heater that might be located some distance away. If you are environmentally conscious, wasting hundreds of gallons of water while you wait for hot water to be delivered isn't acceptable.

If you are tired of waiting for hot water or don't like the idea of wasting water, consider installing ahot water recirculating system or having one installed. The principle of these systems is simple: A recirculating pump installed in the plumbing lines creates a loop that slowly and constantly circulates the water in the hot water pipes back into the water heater for reheating. This means that as soon as you open a faucet or turn on a shower, warm water is already present in those pipes, so you don't need to waste water down the draining waiting for the water to heat up.

There are many options when it comes to hot water recirculating systems, so you may need to do some research in order to choose the system that is right for you.

Traditional Hot Water Recirculating Systems

In a traditional hot water recirculating system, there is a dedicated return line for the hot water pipes, which runs from the furthest bathroom or fixture back to the water heater. Near the water heater area, a recirculating pump pulls the water from the furthest fixture back into the water heater, creating a loop. This loop keeps hot water going throughout the house so when a fixture is used, hot water is right there. If you have a dedicated return line, then this is a great system to use. You can even get pumps that have timers built in, so the pump only runs during the hours you need it, offering you savings on energy costs.

Instant Hot Water Recirculating Systems

This type of recirculating system does not require a dedicated hot water return loop. It can be installed and used in any house. Instant hot water systems come in many different varieties, so choose what is best for you. The two main pump locations are over-the-water-heater and under-the-sink.

• Over-the-water-heater: For this configuration, the pump is located above the water heater, and a check valve is located under the sink furthest away from the hot water heater. The pump pressurizes the hot side of the systems and, through the bypass valve under the sink, it pushes the hot water into the cold water system, creating a hot loop. This loop can run constantly, or it can be used with a timer that may even be built into the unit. With the timer, you can just run the pump on during those times of day when you need quick hot water. Connecting the recirculating system check valve to the system under the sink furthest away allows the system to provide quick hot water all along the line because the hot water is circulating throughout the house. An instant hot water recirculating system usually comes with everything you need to install it. Keep in mind, though, that you will need power near the water heater to plug in the pump. These systems are recommended for all types of pipes and are virtually maintenance-free. The biggest drawback with this type of system is that the loop pushes water into the cold side; most distant fixtures will initially have warm water in the cold water pipes when you first run it. This is quite a minor drawback, though.
• Under-the-sink: This style is installed underneath the sink furthest away from the water heat, and it pushes the hot water into the cold line so you will have hot water to all your fixtures, as needed. Most models come with timers and often built-in sensors that will turn on when the water temperature drops below a set temperature. This type of under-the-sink hot water recirculating pump will require power under your sink to operate.

On-Demand Hot Water Recirculating Systems

This type of recirculating system is similar to the instant recirculating system, but rather than running constantly or at preset timed intervals, it requires the user to activate the pump when hot water is needed. It can be a traditional style with the pump at the water heater with a dedicated return line, or it can be an under-the-sink pump that is installed in the farthest sink and provides hot water throughout the house.

When the pump is activated, it will pump cooled water in the hot water pipes back into the cold water pipe and push it back toward the water heater, creating a temporary loop as the water heats up. So, rather than that cooled water being wasted by going down the drain as you wait for hot water to arrive, it is kept in the loop and sent back to the water heater for heating. When the water arriving through the hot water pipe reaches the desired temperature, the pump shuts off, and the hot water runs out the faucet rather than looping back through the cold water pipes.

This is a very efficient system because when the hot water is sensed at the pump, it automatically shuts off and stops pushing the water from the hot line into the cold side. Pushing a button may give the impression that you still have to wait for hot water, but the system can be activated by wireless remote or with buttons in multiple locations throughout the house, making it very convenient. Some systems also offer motion sensors that sense the flow of water automatically, turning on and shutting off automatically. Either way, having hot water on-demand is a great option for saving water and conserving energy.

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