Question on return line for water heater

daluu

The home has a slab foundation and there's a very small partial attic. The water heater was moved (by previous owner) from garage to back of house with piping for it rerouted (or extended) from original location to the back of the house, creating a large loop for water to run through to the heater. And the pipes run outside under the roof eave. Where the pipe connections & heater vent are in the garage have mostly been walled & ceiling'd off with sheetrock.

I have a floorplan drawing showing the bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, water heater, and rerouted pipes layout:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ykxs043pei...PipeLayout.pdf

pardon the drawing, text might be a little small to read, hope you can read it.

Given this, would it be feasible to add a dedicated return line for hot water recirculation? If yes, where would you likely run it from to the water heater?

Or would you suggest moving the water heater back to original location as best solution? I am considering that but not able to at present with the stuff stored in the garage.

For the time being, I have installed a Watts recirculation pump at heater with a valve that feeds the warm water back to cold water line installed at a bathroom sink fixture. And have also insulated the hot water pipe outside the house. Didn't for cold water line but maybe should later on. We live in Bay Area California so freezing of pipe generally shouldn't be an issue. The current setup works fine, but just considering my options for the longer term (in combination with assessments for other planned home remodel work and reroofing that directly/indirectly impact the water heater piping and venting.

oh'mike

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oh'mike

Here you go----Someone will help soon enough---Mike----

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daluu

Hmm? Don't get the comment, was just asking for advice.

Javiles

only with tank type water heater, use the circulation pump that does not need the third line you can buy it at h/d for about 200 bucks read up on it may or not work for you.

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daluu

Javile, that's what I have installed right now. My question is whether adding the third line is feasible in my case or not.

Thanks for response though.

daluu

That's a broken URL/image being pasted here. What did you intend to show?

idlplumb

Buy one of these and no need for a return line. I installed one in my own home (I'm a plumber) and it works great. Installation is quick and simple too.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JG81AQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957& creativeASIN=B000JG81AQ

Alan

He has one of those already.


So to OP : Why do you not like the watts system that you have?

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idlplumb

I don't have experience with the Watts system and thought maybe the Watts was falling short of his/her expectations. I like the Grundfos and think it does a fine job for what it costs.

daluu

The Watt's system is working fine so far. Hopefully it will last for long time. I don't want to keep replacing parts.

I posted this thread because I read in online discussions, a dedicated return line is the preferred method (or is it just because some people don't like a little warm water in the cold line and also think that water coming from the water heater is filthy?).

I also contacted 2 plumbers about my hot water issue because the heater got moved farther away from original location. One plumber suggested and would only do it with a return line and it was costly. The other plumber took a look first and suggested using something like the Watts. So obviously, I went with second plumber.

So you can say I just wanted advice on the topic.

Perhaps another way to rephrase my post might be: aside from the irks that people have with mixing hot/warm water into the cold line, is there really any reason/benefit to have a dedicated return line?