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AGE of WATER HEATERS
ALTERNATIVE HOT WATER SOURCES
ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS
ANTI SCALD VALVES
APPLIANCE DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions
BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT
BACKFLOW PREVENTER, HEATER WATER FEEDER
CARBON MONOXIDE - CO
CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY
CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPING
CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING
DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater
DRAIN a WATER HEATER TANK
ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS
FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR
FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING
GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
GAS BURNER FLAME & NOISE DEFECTS
GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS
GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS
HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS
HOT WATER SUPPLY
HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS
HOT WATER DELIVERY SPEED UP
HOT WATER EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT
HOT WATER PRESSURE EXPANSION RATE
HOT WATER PRESSURE LOSS
HOT WATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS
HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT
HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS
INDIRECT FIRED WATER HEATERS
MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC
MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES
NO HEAT - NO HOT WATER: HEATER DIAGNOSIS
NOISE, WATER HEATER
ODORS IN WATER
PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types
RELIEF VALVE LEAKS
RELIEF VALVE, WATER HEATER
SCALE REMOVAL, WATER HEATERS
SEWER GAS ODORS
SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS
TANKLESS WATER HEATERS
THERMAL EXPANSION of HOT WATER
THERMOSTATS, WATER HEATER
TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS
WATER HEATER ALTERNATIVES
WATER HEATER ANODES, DIP TUBES
WATER HEATER AIR INLET
WATER HEATER DEBRIS FLUSH
WATER HEATER DRAIN PROCEDURE
WATER HEATER EFFICIENCY
WATER HEATER FLUSH PROCEDURE
WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE
WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS
WATER HEATER COMPARISONS, PROPERTIES
WATER HEATER SCALE
WATER HEATER SAFETY
WATER HEATERS for HOME HEATING USE?
WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE
WATER PIPES, Clogs Leaks Types
WATER PRESSURE TOO HIGH: DANGERS
WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT
WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS
WINTERIZE A BUILDING
Instant or fast hot water delivery to plumbing fixtures in buildings: This article explains methods used to speed up the delivery of hot water to plumbing fixtures. This discussion applies to conventional water heaters as well as indirect fired water heaters, tankless coils, tankless water heaters, instant water heaters or "on demand" water heaters.
If you are waiting endlessly for hot water to arrive at your sink, tub, or shower, your home may feel as if the piping is as long and the hot water as far away as if your home were as large as the Victoria Hotel on Victoria Island (above). Hotels use a hot water piping loop or point of use heaters to give guests hot water. Some people make these improvements in their home as well.
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Portions of the original text of this article was provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop and Rinnai water heaters. Our OPINION is that readers looking for plenty of hot water heated efficiently should also consider the heater we describe at Indirect-fired Water Heaters.
Before you start fixing or buying stuff to fix a hot water problem hot water problems and diagnostic guides for all kinds of hot water troubles are summarized at WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS. You might want to check there to be sure you're fixing the right problem.
Length of Time for Hot Water to Get from The Tankless Water Heater to the Plumbing Fixture
Unless your hot water piping system is using a continuous hot water loop to circulate hot water between plumbing fixtures and the hot water heater (hotels, perhaps like the Hotel Victoria, Vancouver Island BC, shown at left do this) the time to get hot water from its source to any given plumbing fixture (sink, tub, shower, etc). is a function of water pressure, pipe size, and any obstructions in the water pathway.
The starting temperature of the hot water (from the heating source) is also a factor since the water loses heat to cool piping along the way to its destination.
Water flow obstructions include clogged pipes, clogged plumbing fittings or faucets and valves, flow restrictors, or mixing valves. These conditions exist regardless of how your hot water is made.
Rinnai provides this example of tankless water heater delivery speed:
Various plumbing sources including Rinnai offer several solutions to speeding up hot water delivery in buildings:
All of these methods add cost to the hot water production and delivery system in a building.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about hot water circulating systems or hot water delivery speed-up techniques
Some of the FAQs discussed below are adapted from information provided by the Watts Regulator Company in a 1973 publication.
Question: how do I size the T&P relief valve on a hot water recirculating system?
What should be the size of the hot water circulating pipes & connections to keep balanced temperature in the hot water storage tank and to prevent the temperature and pressure relief valve from opening up when it shouldn't? - Watts
Reply: set proper circulating piping diameter
Circulating piping on a hot water recirculating system should be at least equal to the full size of the circulation connection on the heater (the circulating pump connections) and never smaller than 3/4" in diameter.  paraphrased
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