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Posted by Robert Gammon on May 31, 2006, 11:07 am
Harry K wrote:
> George wrote:
>
>> Jack wrote:
>>
>>>
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E78XHG/ref=sr_11_1/103-4843280-9160667?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013
>>>
>>> Has anyone installed one of those? Any good and reliable?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> And have you considered the downside such as extra enery cost for both
>> heating the water and the extra load on the A/C?
>>
>
> And that is a big downside. It costs a lot more to keep the water hot
> in those systems than the cost of the water you waste in a normal
> system by running it until it gets hot.
>
> Harry K
>
>
As with most things in life, there is a tradeoff here.
Depending on the situation, up to 15,000 gallons a year of water that
would otherwise flow down the drain while you wait for the hot water to
arrive will be saved as hot water will be virtually instant on every
time. That's on the order of $60 or more per year in water/sewer costs
saved (exactly how much depends on where you live). The pump will
consume maybe $10 of that in a year. The extra utility costs in keeping
the water at a usable temp in the hot water lines during usage hours is
hard to quantify but lets say its an extra $15 a year.
All hot water lines then need to be insulated to minimize heat loss in
the lines (although here, attic temps are well over 100F in the summer,
so heat loss to the attic is minimial - all water lines are above the
ceiling here)
Yes, it is a MARGINAL benefit and has a LONG payback period. Yet in
areas that are water poor, this can have a much quicker payback, and the
comfort level in the home goes up dramatically.
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