CountryBumkin
Active Member
I have been waiting for the day when my 20-year old water heater needed replacement to take my house plumbing project to the next step. That day has come. I just bought a new electric water heater and now I am in the process of collecting all the parts I will need to self install. I want to install a recirculating pump for the master bathroom show at the far end of the house. I already have a Grundfos "Comfort Pump model UP10-16BN5/ATLC". I am using PEX (Uponor's AquaPex) throughout.
Here's my plan: The master bath is at the far end of the house (single story, Ranch style in central FL). I have already refinished/replumbed the master bath with PEX and I have the water supply feed in the attic. Background: Currently the water comes out of the slab in PB hose then I converted that to PEX that runs up the interior wall into attic and then back down to shower fixture (the idea being if the PB fails I can abandon it in the wall and make my new water feed connections in the attic.
Now that I am replacing the water heater this is the time to do step two of my plumbing plan (add the recirculation pump). I will cap off the shower water feed from the PB and re-feed the shower fixture with a new run of (1/2" insulated) PEX through the attic from the water heater (coming off my (yet to be purchased) "PEX Aquacenter" manifold and then add the recirculation pump to one of the hot water feeds off the manifold).
My questions are: From previous posts here, I know that it is desirable to have the recirculation return line go to the bottom of the water heater.
1) Should I remove the existing tank drain valve (I assume its threaded into the tank somehow) and install a tee (one side of the tee being the return line, the other for the drain valve) - or
2) should just connect directly to the brass drain fitting on the water heater (the drain has a threaded "hose" connection for draining. But this sloppy in my mind) - or
3) would it be better to just install the return line at the cold water inlet at top of the tank?
What do the professionals do? The water heater is a Rheem Fury 83VR66-2.
I'll draw up a sketch of my plan, and post back shortly, to help you visualize what I'm thinking of doing. Thanks in advance for your replies/help.
Here's my plan: The master bath is at the far end of the house (single story, Ranch style in central FL). I have already refinished/replumbed the master bath with PEX and I have the water supply feed in the attic. Background: Currently the water comes out of the slab in PB hose then I converted that to PEX that runs up the interior wall into attic and then back down to shower fixture (the idea being if the PB fails I can abandon it in the wall and make my new water feed connections in the attic.
Now that I am replacing the water heater this is the time to do step two of my plumbing plan (add the recirculation pump). I will cap off the shower water feed from the PB and re-feed the shower fixture with a new run of (1/2" insulated) PEX through the attic from the water heater (coming off my (yet to be purchased) "PEX Aquacenter" manifold and then add the recirculation pump to one of the hot water feeds off the manifold).
My questions are: From previous posts here, I know that it is desirable to have the recirculation return line go to the bottom of the water heater.
1) Should I remove the existing tank drain valve (I assume its threaded into the tank somehow) and install a tee (one side of the tee being the return line, the other for the drain valve) - or
2) should just connect directly to the brass drain fitting on the water heater (the drain has a threaded "hose" connection for draining. But this sloppy in my mind) - or
3) would it be better to just install the return line at the cold water inlet at top of the tank?
What do the professionals do? The water heater is a Rheem Fury 83VR66-2.
I'll draw up a sketch of my plan, and post back shortly, to help you visualize what I'm thinking of doing. Thanks in advance for your replies/help.
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