Since the dawn of modern central heating, accessing hot water from the kitchen sink or en suite shower is often met with an icy cold wait for the boiler to fire up.
In bigger homes, it’s even more of an issue.
Traditionally, many installers have shunned gas combi boilers for larger domestic properties, often associating combis with slow water heat-up and low-flow rates, opting instead for a system boiler and big DHW cylinder.
A more advanced response to increasing demands for hot water ‘on tap’ is hot water recirculation systems, which help speed up the process and eradicate those lukewarm morning showers or chilly dishwashing sessions.
What is hot water recirculation?
As more homes are fitted with multiple bathrooms, the need for hot water at multiple outlets has increased.
Research shows the ideal house should have two bathrooms for every three bedrooms.
Secondary return systems or pumped return systems are common in larger homes to provide almost instant hot water to each outlet regardless of location in the property or time of day.
A hot water pipe is installed in a loop, connecting to all hot water outlets throughout the property.
As the recirculation system is constantly circulating throughout the loop at temperatures around 60°C, which results in high heat losses, the supply is almost instant meaning users can access hot water in a matter of seconds.
The technology
Hot water recirculation pumps are simple plumbing devices designed for installation at the furthest accessible fixture away from the boiler.
These devices, such as Navien’s NaviCirc™, use a thermostatic valve to measure the temperature of the water flowing through the device.
Once the water has reached 35°C, the valve will block circulation, cutting off the loop to ensure hot water is accessible throughout the pipeline.
The pump inside the boiler recognises this and stops circulating the domestic hot water until a hot water outlet is used, providing hot water in a matter of seconds.
Water is not left in the pipes to get cold and, with no reason to run the water, there is less wastage.
What are the benefits?
Once a domestic hot water recirculation system is up and running, homeowners will notice the significant benefits immediately, including boosted performance, time efficiency and a significant reduction in water usage.
More bathrooms require more hot water, and statistically every household in the UK uses an average of 350 litres of water each day.
However, a hot water recirculation system can significantly reduce this figure, helping households waste less water and keep energy bills to a minimum.
The average showerhead uses 2.1 gallons (7.9 litres) per minute, meaning that homeowners could be wasting three gallons of water before they even step foot in the shower.
With approximately 53% of an average annual combined energy bill generated by heating water for showers, baths and hot water taps, devices such as Navien’s NaviCirc™ save 7,787 litres per year.
For more information about NaviCirc™, visit www.navien.co.uk/technology/navicirc/ or to discover the full range of products available from Navien, visit www.navien.co.uk/professional
