How to tell if I have a hot water return line

[OZ324]

Recently bought a house that was built in 02. During inspection there was a water line going to the hot water tank's drain, but no pump. We asked for the tank to be replaced before closing but the new one did not have the same line going to the drain. Is it possible this was a return line? Takes forever for hot water to get to some of the taps in the house. How can I tell if I do have a return line?

Thanks

 

[Terry]

You may have had a return line. Is it a crawl or on slab?
If there is a 1/2" returning from a far point, it may have been. I like to use a pump with an aquastat.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[OZ324]

Crawlspace. The 3/4 pipe on the right, which loops back in to the hot water supply is connected to a 1/2. It's coming from the side of the house that has the furthest faucet. If this is the return, can I remove the loop add a pump and reconnect to the drain?

Thanks Terry.

 

[Reach4]

I think you only need to connect to the drain valve if you are trying to have this be convection-powered. If you are pumping, I think you could just have it pump into the cold line.

 

[Terry]

I would consider connecting to the cold side.
Normally we would add a check valve to the incoming cold supply, with expansion tank.
The check valve prevents warm water from mixing back into the cold. The expansion tank because of the check valve.
A pump wth a $25 aquastat prevents the pump from running 24/7

I see that you already have an expansion tank

 

[hj]

IF that is a return line, it should NOT connect to the hot water pipe. If you use a pump it can connect to the drain or cold water pipe. It ALWAYS needs a check valve ,on that line not the incoming cold water pipe, regardless of whether there is a pump or not. And you might want to support that expansion somehow other than by the water piping., unless you can mount it directly on top of that tee.