I was watching a This Old House episode where they used PEX tubing to loop through the entire house for water supply. The idea was that a pressure drop caused by a consumer at one end would be made up for by flow from the other side of the loop. The PEX was sized to be smaller than a normal supply line but with higher flow with two. Has anyone used this method?
I was thinking of running a PEX loop for the hot water and installing a pump for “instant” hot water. To make it work, I would need a normally-open solenoid valve in the loop that closed when the pump runs. The cold water would just be a loop since no re-circ would be needed.
Replies
Greetings CJD,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
Sounds a little hoaky to me - the first paragraph, not your idea.
One of the big advantagees of PEX supply is how easy it is to run a separate supply to each location, all served from a manifold. That wayno pressure is stolen from other places and no more sudden scalding in the shower when somebody flushes
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I'm an old school plumber---- I do like pex but I draw the line at the manibloc¯ system.
Most manibloc¯ systems are ran with smaller pipes so you're actually running the water at more feet per second which can cause premature failure of the plumbing system."There are about 550000000 firearms in worldwide circulation. That's one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is...........How do we arm the other eleven?" Yuri Orlov<!----><!----><!---->
My plumber uses 1/2"
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Cool I have seen a lot of those systems done in 3/8"
Which works but what happens when you want to add onto the system but you're at the other end of the house from the manibloc.
I always like to size a sytem that can handle moderate additions."There are about 550000000 firearms in worldwide circulation. That's one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is...........How do we arm the other eleven?" Yuri Orlov<!----><!----><!---->
In the wirsbo cat. they show a motion detector set up so your recirc pump comes on when you walk into the bathroom... just an idea i'd never seen or thought of... but has me think'n now...
p
Sorry a neophyte here. What is "wirsbo cat."? The motion sensor concept has my interest. Thanks.
wirsbo catolog
wirsbo is now uponor http://www.uponor-usa.com
"There are about 550000000 firearms in worldwide circulation. That's one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is...........How do we arm the other eleven?" Yuri Orlov<!----><!----><!---->
A recent "Ask This Old House" had Richard the plumber installing a re-circulating pump to pull the cold water in the hot water line and pump it back through the cold water line until the temperature reached 100 degrees or so. It had a button to push to start the pump located under the bathroom sink. Can't remember the manufacturer.I've also posted this website: http://www.chilipepperappliance.com.Same type pump. It even can be started with a remote before you get out of bed...
Pete
OOPS.........http://www.chilipepperapp.comI blew it.
Pete
Yeah I have seen a few different styles from a few different manufactures.
One of the first auto ones out was on a motion detector--- would kick on when someone entered the room.
I think grudfos has a good one
Their system puts the pump at the water heater so the only parts you have under the sink is the bypass/mixing valve + sensor"There are about 550000000 firearms in worldwide circulation. That's one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is...........How do we arm the other eleven?" Yuri Orlov<!----><!----><!---->
Let's just say if it's not broke don't fix it.
In a house you're not going to notice a flow drop if you size the system correctly. verses having a loop type system.
Hot loop/circulation is a great idea it saves a tremendous amout of water per year. But just like the cold you don't really need a bidirectional loop.
& temp changing showers are a thing of the past I don't know anywhere in the USA that you can install a shower that does not have a scald gaurd with it.
"There are about 550000000 firearms in worldwide circulation. That's one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is...........How do we arm the other eleven?" Yuri Orlov