Autocirc Questions & Answers

Q. When should I consider installing an AUTOCIRC® under sink automatic hot water delivery system?

A. In an existing home or building whenever you must wait 30 seconds or more for hot water to arrive at the faucet or shower farthest from your water heater.

Q. Where should the system be installed?

A. Under the sink (plumbed between or to the side of the hot and cold water faucet inlet risers) where it takes hot water the longest time to arrive at the hot water faucet - usually the sink/faucet farthest from the water heater.

Q. Is there a limitation on the size of the home or length of water supply line for an AUTOCIRC® system to be effective?

A. No. However, the longer the hot water supply line, the longer the pump operating cycles. This, however, is of no consequence to system's effectiveness or system life expectancy.

Q. When I open the cold water faucet at the sink under which the AUTOCIRC® system is installed what prevents hot water from the hot water supply line from coming out that faucet?

A. The pump housing has a built-in auto closure device which prevents water from the hot water line coming through the cold water faucet and vice versa. The only exception is that when the cold water faucet is opened during one of the intervals when the pump is running, warm water will be directed from the hot water line through the cold water faucet. The warm water flow, however, will last only a very short time and end once the water temperature in the hot water line reaches 95ºF, thereby shutting off the pump.

Q. What if I have a branched hot water piping system where one hot water supply line goes to one part of the home and another line goes to another part of the home?

A. Two AUTOCIRC® systems would have to be installed--one under the farthest sink on each line.  The AUTOCIRC® system will keep hot water available at all faucets on the same hot water supply line used for the system installation site.

Q. Since water from the hot water line is being pumped into the cold water line will there be any prolonged period of warm water coming out of the cold water line?

A. No. Once the cold water faucet is opened any "warmish" water in the cold water line takes a very short time to dissipate before the normal cold water temperature arrives.

Q. What is the temperature of the hot water at the hot water faucet when I first turn it on in the morning?

A. If the pump timer is set to allow the pump to go on before you turn on the faucet the temperature will be around 95ºF, which is basically shower warm water. However, full temperature hot water will arrive only seconds later.

Q. Will the other faucets in my home have hot water instantly available?

A. With the AUTOCIRC® system installed under the sink farthest from the water heater, all the hot water faucets directly on the main hot water supply line between the water heater and the farthest faucet location will have instant hot water available. For those faucets located on branch lines off the main hot water supply line, availability of hot water will take slightly longer to arrive than for those faucets located on or just off the main water line.

Q. My shower is a few feet downstream from the sink under which the AUTOCIRC® system is installed. Will hot water be available instantly also at the shower?

A. Not Quite. Hot water will arrive once the few feet of cooled down water that is in the hot water line between the sink and shower flushes through the shower head -- literally in seconds as compared to your previous lengthy wait.

Q. Does the pump cycle on and off frequently during the day?

A. Yes, the pump will cycle on and off from 1-2 times per hour during the operating time period you set on the pump timer. On/off operation, no matter how many cycles, is in no way harmful to the pump or to its expected operating life, an advantage of the pump’s spherical, magnetic drive motor design.

Q. Will I hear the pump during operation?

A. No. The pump and system is silent.

Q. How much does the system cost to operate?

A. Even if allowed to operate 24 hours a day the total cost of running the AUTOCIRC® pump is less than $1.50 per year. If the pump is set for 12 or 16 hours per day, the system may create a significant annual water/energy savings.

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