Best Hot Water Recirculating Pump Reviews 2018
Are you someone who likes to have hot water ready at a moment’s notice? Are you tired of having to wait for minutes on end to get your shower or faucet up to the right temperature each time? If so, then a hot water recirculating pump may be the right thing for you. These handy devices allow you to manage the hot water in your house much more effectively, and can even save you a lot of money on your water bill. Today we’re going to look at some of the best hot water recirculating pump reviews on the market, as well as go over the most important features and benefits you should pay attention to when making your final decision.
Post Contents
Top 6 Hot Water Recirculating Pump Comparison Table
Image | Name | Warrenty | Editors Ratings | Check price and Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Top Picks Watts 500800 | 1-Year Limited Warranty | ||
 | Grundfos 595916 | 2 years from the date of installation | ||
 | Laing LHB08100092 | 1 year from the date of user purchase | ||
 | Grundfos 59896155 | 2 years from the date of installation | ||
 | Watts 500899 | Warranty information about this product Click here | ||
 | SHURflo 4008-101-E65 | 1 year |
6 Best Hot Water Recirculating Pump - In Depth Reviews
1. Watts 500800
If simplicity and efficiency are the most important things to you (they should be), then this is a fabulous place to start with regard to finding the right pump for your home. Watts is a remarkable company that makes one of the best recirculating water pumps around, which is why it kicks off our list.
Saves Up to 15,000 Gallons Per Year
If you weren’t sure how much money you could potentially save with one of these devices, let this number better illustrate the
cost savings. A family of four can go through a ton of water in a year, but you will greatly reduce the amount of waste going down your drain with this system. Best of all, it even comes with a one year warranty so that you can make sure to see how well it works during that time. The only downside to this pump is that it doesn’t operate with tankless heaters.
Maintenance Free Design
While having a long-term warranty helps ensure that you don’t have to worry too much about this device, the fact that it is designed to require as little maintenance as possible means that this is a great buy. In most cases, the only time you have to check the system is if you want to change the timer settings.
One-Hour Installation
For some people, the idea of installing a pump to their water heater seems daunting, but this particular model is so easy to use that it doesn’t take any more than an hour to put into place. All you need is a standard set of tools (wrenches and screwdrivers), and you can get up and running in no time.
Adjustable Timer
To help make sure that you are using as little energy as possible to get your hot water, you can program this device to shut off completely during inactive hours. That means that while you’re sleeping, you won’t have to worry about the machine working overtime and costing you money. Best of all, it comes with two settings so that you can shut it off while you’re at work as well.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Long-lasting design
- Low maintenance required
- Timer saves extra water
- Saves up to 15K gallons per year
- Durable construction
Cons
- Hoses may not last as long as main device
- Timer needs to be adjusted on a regular basis
2. Grundfos 595916
If you’re looking for a high-quality system that adapts to your needs, then this pump from Grundfos is an excellent way to go. What makes this brand so unique is that you can use this machine for either a hot water tank or to move cooled liquid in an air conditioning system as well. Either way, you get fantastic results.
Variable Flow Range
With some pumps, you have to make sure that you get enough water pressure to deliver the right temperature to all of the faucets and showers in your home. Thankfully, this
particular model can pump up to nine gallons per minute, which is more than enough for a single-story home. Best of all, it adjusts itself automatically depending on your usage, so you don’t have to worry about using too much pressure at any given time.
Low Maintenance Design
To make this pump even more convenient, it’s designed to be as effortless as possible. This means that you won’t have to keep revisiting it on a regular basis to make sure that it’s working correctly. The low maintenance design ensures that it will keep on ticking without any problems.
Built-In Timer
With some pumps, you have to worry about using more energy than you are saving because it operates at all hours of the day, regardless of if you need hot water. Thankfully, with this system, you can program it to come on and off during the peak parts of your day to ensure that you are operating as efficiently as possible.
Durable Construction
To help give you even more peace of mind, this pump is made with only high-quality stainless steel parts and connections. This means that you don’t have to worry about rust or corrosion over time, nor do you have to worry about metal leaching into your water. Best of all, it comes with a remarkable two-year warranty to illustrate how durable it all is.
Pros
- High-quality parts and materials
- Low maintenance required
- Timer saves extra water
- Flow rate is adjustable for your needs
- Long-lasting design
- Works with most heating and cooling systems
Cons
- Some components are not as durable as others
- In rare cases, the valves may leak
3. Laing LHB08100092
For those who want to save both electricity and water with their recirculating pumps, this model from Laing delivers on both fronts with a straightforward and efficient unit that uses as little power as possible while providing hot water instantly.
Save Up to 17,000 Gallons Per Year
Because of the way that this pump is designed, you install it at the point of entry rather than on your heater. This means that you can get better results with less energy, which can lead to significant savings. To ensure better operation, you may want to install multiple units your home so that you can save even more water and power throughout the year.
Built-In 24-Hour Timer
As with most recirculating pumps, this device gives you the option to shut it off when you don’t need hot water. Whether it’s during the night while you’re sleeping or all day when you’re on vacation, this timer is easy to use and adjust as needed so that you’re not wasting any energy.
Low Power Design
As we mentioned, this pump attaches to the point of entry instead of on your heater. This means that it can operate with as little as fourteen watts of power. As you will see on your utility bill, this will barely increase your electric usage, making this one of the most energy efficient pumps you can find.
Automatic Circulation
Finally, to help seal the deal and make this pump as effective as possible, it has an automatic sensor that activates when the water in the line gets below 85 degrees, and it shuts off when the temperature rises above 95 degrees. This ensures that you don’t waste any time or electricity to heat water that is already at temp. Best of all, once the hot water starts flowing the system will turn off to further save you money.
Pros
- Saves 17K gallons per year
- Easy to install
- Requires less power than the competition
- Timer reduces water consumption
- Automatic sensor for convenience
- Durable materials and construction
- Long-lasting design
- Low maintenance
Cons
- Only works for one point of entry
- Does not work well with a tankless heater
4. Grundfos 59896155
If you want something that is even more powerful than the model up above, this unit from Grundfos might be for you. This pump is designed for higher-use households, so it may be a much better buy if you go through a lot of water.
Variable Flow Range
We talked about water pressure above, and this pump takes the cake with a system that can move up to 15.5 gallons of water per minute. Thus, if you have a high-capacity or a two-story home this pump will rise to the challenge every time. Best of all, it adjusts automatically.
Maintenance Free Design
With so much water moving through the lines, you may think that it would put a lot more stress on the system. However, this pump still uses less power and requires less maintenance than other similar models. Using only 25 watts, it can give you highly efficient results each time. Also, it is much quieter than most other pumps and easier to install.
Durable Construction
To help give you peace of mind with this system, it’s made of high-quality stainless steel parts. That means that corrosion and rust will never be a problem and that this pump is built to last. In fact, it comes with a two-year warranty to prove that point.
Optional Systems
If you want to make this system even more energy efficient, you can buy it with an automatic sensor that turns on and off depending on the temperature of the water. That means you aren’t wasting electricity while the water is flowing. Additionally, you can get an adjustable timer to ensure that the system isn’t operating during inactive hours.
Pros
- Durable materials and construction
- Easy to install
- Low maintenance design
- Adjustable flow saves more water
- Timer built-in
- Automatic sensor option
Cons
- In rare cases, the pump may rust on the inside, getting into your water
- Some components may break down faster than others
5. Watts 500899
Closing our list is another high-quality pump from Watts. This unit is part of the same line as the first one we saw, meaning that it comes with many of the same benefits and features. However, what sets this one apart is that it has better connection parts that make the installation process even easier, and the timer is much simpler to activate and set.
Fast Installation
If you want a pump that you can install in less than an hour, then you will get it with this model from Watts. While other units can take up to half a day to make sure that it’s flowing
correctly, this pump can be attached much more easily and conveniently. Best of all, thanks to its low-maintenance design, you can practically set it and forget about it.
Excellent Water Savings
We’ve talked about the fact that water pumps like this are designed to save money on your water bill, and as such this model will help you reduce your waste by up to 15,000 gallons per year or more. As long as you keep your energy usage to a minimum, this pump will pay for itself in no time.
Durable Materials
You don’t want to install something like this into your home and then have to replace or fix it on a regular basis, which is why the Watts Pump is made with some of the best materials you can find. Stainless steel and brass fittings ensure that you will only have to install this thing once.
Timer Built-In
Finally, to give you even better water savings, this system comes with an easy-to-use and intuitive timer system that allows you to shut it off during low usage hours, such as when you’re sleeping or at work. Best of all, it works daily so you only have to adjust it if your schedule changes.
Pros
- Easy to install and use
- Saves thousands of gallons per year
- Low maintenance design
- Timer helps save more water
- Durable construction and materials
- Long-lasting operation
Cons
- In rare cases, the valves may leak
- The hoses provided do not last as long as the pump
6. SHURflo 4008-101-E65
Kicking off our list is the 4008-101 Water Pump from ShurFlo. This brand makes a lot of high-quality pumps, and most of them are designed for RV use, which makes it a great option for this list. In fact, we’ll be looking at a few different models from the company since they are so renowned for their expertise.
What we like most about this pump is that it has a durable and robust motor that should provide excellent results for years to come. As an RV owner, you don’t want to have to replace your water pump on a regular basis, so it’s always
nice to know that something is built to last. In fact, it comes with a two-year warranty to prove that point.
That being said, as with most RV pumps, moderation is always best. If you run the water excessively, it can cause the pump to overwork itself and shut down.
When talking about performance, this model delivers three gallons per minute, and it activates automatically when the water pressure hits 25 PSI. Then, it also turns off when the pressure reaches 55 PSI, so you never have to worry about the system overloading. It’s self-priming and can run dry without any damage. Overall, this is a fantastic pump.
Pros
- Powerful 7.5-amp motor
- Durable construction
- Flow rate of 3 GPM
- Delivers up to 55 PSI
- Thermal protection
- Mounting bracket included
- Adjustable pressure switch
- Quiet operation
- No damage if it runs dry
- Built-in check valve
- Self-priming pump
- Activates at 25 PSI
- Shuts off at 55 PSI
- Internal bypass low-cycling
- Vertical lift of six feet
- Weighs only five pounds
- Two-year limited warranty
Cons
- Some components break down faster than others
- Not designed for heavy duty use
- Automatic switch does not always activate properly
How to Choose The Right Hot Water Recirculating Pump
Since this pump can have such a profound effect on your home’s water usage, it’s crucial that you take the time to find the right model for you. Fortunately, there are not a lot of different components involved in a recirculating pump, meaning that if you pay attention to these different factors, it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that will work well in your household.
Timer
The biggest reason to get a hot water recirculating pump like this is to not only get hot water instantly but to save money on your water bill. Unfortunately, some models will then increase your electric bill, making the whole thing a moot point. However, to help minimize the energy usage for your device, many of them come with a programmable timer. This enables you to pick times where you do not need hot water so that the system won’t turn on during those times. This helps ensure that you aren’t paying for something that you don’t need. The best time to have the system shut off would be at night when you and your family are sleeping.
Materials
With a device like this, you don’t want something that will have to be replaced on a regular basis. As such, you want a model that requires little maintenance and can be used for years on end without breaking down. To make sure that you get the best results possible you have to pay attention to the types of materials used in its construction. Many recirculating pumps are made with stainless steel to protect the components from rusting and corrosion, but not all of them are. If you get one with cast iron or plastic parts, for example, it may break down quicker. The trade-off here is that the unit will usually cost less up front, so it’s up to you to figure out if the initial cost is more important than longevity.
On Demand vs. Constant Recirculation
As we mentioned, one of the problems with some water pumps is that they move hot water through the system all of the time, meaning that you are spending as much energy to keep the water hot as you are saving by eliminating water waste. To make sure that you are as efficient as possible, you want a pump that comes with an automatic sensor. These usually work by activating the pump when the water reaches a certain temperature (such as 85 degrees), then shutting off when the desired heat is activated (such as 95 degrees). This type of pump will usually only add a negligible amount to your energy bill, making it a much better choice overall.
Tankless Water Heaters
Finally, the last consideration you have to make is whether or not you have a tankless heater. Many recirculating pumps do not have enough water pressure to activate such heaters, meaning that you either have to find one that does or skip the pump altogether. Unfortunately, getting a unit that works with a tankless heater is generally going to cost more, so it’s up to you to decide if the added investment is worth the convenience of hot water on demand.
Why Do I Need a Water Recirculating Pump?
In the end, if you are a person who hates having to wait for hot water, or if your system is remarkably slow at delivering it, then a recirculating pump can be a great option. Additionally, it may come in handy during colder seasons where you have to wait longer for hot water to arrive. This will not only ensure that you get better results, but it can help you save on utility bills by further reducing the amount of waste water you go through in a single season.
The other reason to get a right hot water recirculating pump is if you are worried about all of the water that goes down the drain while you wait for it to heat up. This device will significantly reduce your consumption and thereby save you money on your water bill. As long as you make sure that you aren’t using too much electricity to operate the system, you could wind up saving a lot over the long term.
Final Verdict
After looking through these different pumps, we have to say that the Watts Hot Water Pump is the best hot water recirculating pump. We like how easy it is to install as well as the benefits and features that it offers. Not only can you save a ton of money per year by wasting less water, but the system itself is energy efficient and easy to use. Overall, you get a lot more from this model than you do with others in the same category.
