Hot water circulation

[Greenbeast]

We're putting together a new meat cutting room, the hand washing sink is about 6-8m of pipework away from the cylinder.
I've been wondering about doing the unthinkable and fitting a circuit to circulate the hot water so it's immediately available.

Pipework will obviously be well insulated, do we need any specific type pf pump?

Unfortunately, unlike previous uses of this method for bathrooms or kitchens in a house i can't do anything as clever as use a PIR to run the pump only when someone enters the room as the butcher will working there all day, any other suggestions or thoughts?

[brackwell]

I expect a heater under the sink, perhaps on a timer would be way more efficient particularly for hand washing which is very wastful

[chasfromnorfolk]

In a previous life and a sprawling bungalow, we had a dhw ‘circuit’ installed so any tap got how water within seconds rather than draw it from the (non-central) cylinder. I seem to recall the plumber mentioning a ‘bronze pump’ which I guess was non-corrosive...

Cheers,

Chas

[JOE1871]

  This would be my recommendation basic bronze pump low wattage and use simple plug in  digital timer for pump time on  off periods!!
  

    https://www.anchorpumps.com/lowara-ecocirc-pro-15-1-65-1-2-bronze-circulator-240v?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2qbwtaHk5QIVTMDeCh24mQjwEAQYFCABEgIlP_D_BwE

[Philip R]

As Chas and Joe have alluded to.
These types of pumps are regurlarly used in modern hotels, and the hot water appears at the tap straight away.
Insulate using at least 13mm thick foam insulation or theheat lossess will be noticed.
Go for a little pump like the grundfos UP 15-14 B PM connected as per the instructions.

Philip R

[pj]

How about a pump as you suggest for circulating the DHW, but adding an industrial footswitch at the sink to operate the pump?

[Moxi]

Got to agree with Brackwell I would fit an under sink inline heater otherwise if you circulate water constantly the supply and return pipes will only serve to heat your cold room (minimal with insulation but still a source of heat) which would appear unwelcome.

Moxi

[TT]

You need a bronze pump
Fit it on a timer, which is a pain, or your PIR suggestion which is good, as it saves altering time clocks.
My commercial kitchens are all hands free taps/ whatever correct terminology is- , the EHO like these as there is less risk of contamination.

[eabadger]

we have bronze pump for distant circuit.
it only activates when light on in that room.

steve

[Greenbeast]

You need a bronze pump
Fit it on a timer, which is a pain, or your PIR suggestion which is good, as it saves altering time clocks.
My commercial kitchens are all hands free taps/ whatever correct terminology is- , the EHO like these as there is less risk of contamination.

Yes we have a hands free hand washing sink which was the target of this 'solution'


Can't use PIRs as there will be someone working close all day. Could set it to periodically activate on a timer.
Foot switch a possibility, but was looking for rapidity of use not just saving water

[knighty]

ohhhh, I don't get online much anymore but I chose just the right time to pop in.... I want to add a pump to my DHW at work too... I know what kind of pump I need, but what I really need (and what greenbeast might need too?) is some insulation that's waterproof and/or can be cleaned?

for me, it'll be steam cleaned (not too close) so I need something that won't disintegrate, and that won;t get wet/soggy/dirty


any ideas anyone?


I thought about running the pipe+insulation inside some larger plastic pipe (like sink waste pipe)... but it's a bit of a faff fitting it all, making it look tidy (over all the joins/connections/Tees) and it would be murder to make any changes or fix a leak later on

[TT]

Armaflex insulation?

[TT]

You want the pump to run all the time, So a pir will work, just means when they leave at night it stops

[JohnS]

Presumably if it is very well insulated, there will be an acceptable length of time while the tap can be off and the water will be hot enough next time the tap is run. The longer the better.

[chasfromnorfolk]

You need a bronze pump
Fit it on a timer, which is a pain, or your PIR suggestion which is good, as it saves altering time clocks.
My commercial kitchens are all hands free taps/ whatever correct terminology is- , the EHO like these as there is less risk of contamination.

Yes we have a hands free hand washing sink which was the target of this 'solution'


Can't use PIRs as there will be someone working close all day. Could set it to periodically activate on a timer.
Foot switch a possibility, but was looking for rapidity of use not just saving water

If I could stand the running cost in a domestic situation of a constant pumping v the outstanding convenience, I should think in a commercial one robust simplicity coupled with the tax deductability is all the reassurance you need. With respect to you and other more sophisticated suggestions, there’s a risk of over thinking. As you say, a cheap plug-in timeswitch would stop it when its not wanted...

Chas