Hey everyone! We recently had a hot water recirculation system (Taco HLS-2 "Hot Link") installed in our larger older home because we were struggling with slow hot water, particularly in the master bathroom. Now that it's up and running, we're noticing that there's a moderate amount of warm water in the cold water lines throughout the house, including the kitchen. This concern us since we drink tap water and have heard that public health officials advise against drinking water straight from the hot water heater. We have a few questions:
1) Is it typical to get warm water in the cold lines after installing a hot water circulator?
2) Should we be worried about the potential health risks from this exposure to hot water heater water? Our priority is health over convenience, so we don't mind removing the system if it's risky.
3) What are some other important things we should consider regarding the advantages and disadvantages of a hot water circulator system? Thanks for any insights!
2 Answers
That warm water is typically from your hot water heater, and while it's generally not dangerous, it's not the best for drinking over the long haul since heat can leach metals from plumbing. If health is your main issue, consider discussing options with your plumber, like switching to a system with a dedicated return line or installing a check valve to prevent backflow into the cold line. You don’t necessarily have to remove the system; there are fixes!
Yes, it's pretty common to get a little warm water in the cold lines when a hot water recirculator is installed, especially if it's using the cold line for return. It's a sort of trade-off for having instant hot water. A good tip is to run your cold tap for a second; it can help flush out the sediment buildup that might have come from your hot water tank. But you're the one who has to decide if the convenience of hot water on demand is worth the slight hassle of warm water in the cold lines.
But wouldn’t adding a check valve prevent the recirculation system from working properly?