If you ever have to stand around waiting for hot water to reach the fixture, then you are wastefully running water down the drain. By investing in a demand system you can reduce the time it takes for you to get the hot water and you won't be running any water down the drain while you wait. A demand system pumps the heated water to your fixture from your water heater quickly without running any water down the drain.
Not only does this save you time and money, but you will be helping to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are produced when electricity is generated. When your drinking water is pumped and processed, and again when the sewage is treated, the energy used releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when it is generated. By saving water you reduce the amount of energy consumed and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
If your home uses a septic system, a demand hot water system can substantially reduce the amount of water passing through the system. You save not only water, but you reduce the load on the septic system as well. If you have a well, you will reduce the energy used by the pumping.
If your major uses of heated water happen to be very close to your water heater, and only rarely if ever do you need to wait for your hot water, then you probably don't need a demand system. If however, your water heater is on one end of your house, and your master bath is on the other end of the house, then you could really use one.
Tankless water heaters take longer to get hot water to the fixture, since the water needs to be inside the tankless heater for a certain amount of time to get hot. If you have a tankless water heater you waste more water than if you had a storage type water heater. Demand systems when used with tankless water heaters save more water than systems used with conventional water heaters. However, not all systems have pumps powerful enough to turn on the tankless water heaters which are flow operated. So be sure to check with the manufacturer before you make a purchase.
If you are not sure whether or not a demand pump will provide faster water to more than one fixture, there is a way to figure it out. Choose the fixture where you think the demand pump should be located. Pick a time when the hot water has not been used for several hours to be sure the water has all cooled off. Now turn on the hot faucet until warm water reaches the fixture. At this point you have simulated the operation of a demand pump at that location, heated water reached the fixture and it shut off.
Now you can measure how long it takes to get hot water at any other fixture. By comparing that time to how long it normally takes when the piping is cold, you can see how much faster you would get your it. This should help you make your decision.
If it turns out that your demand system pump will save you time and water at more than one fixture, then you will need to either run a pair of wires from the alternate fixture to the pump, or use a remote control to turn the pump on from any secondary fixtures.
Most demand system manufactures offer some form of remote control for such situations. Also keep in mind that you will need to install an electrical outlet under the sink if there isn't already one there to plug the pump into. And finally, check with your local water district to see if there are any rebates that could be applied to the purchase of a demand hot water system. There are a number of water districts that offer such rebates.
William Lund has been an inventor for over 35 years, and has over a dozen patents. His website provides information about water heaters and hot water circulating systems including demand hot water systems. All about hot water systems
Visit Mr. Lund's blog about water heaters, tankless water heaters, hot water pumps and more: The Hot Water Guy
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