You will likely only notice the warmer water in your cold water line at or near where the HWL valve is installed. Most of the time this warmer water is a benefit (washing dishes, laundry, hands and etc). If cooler water is desired, it takes the same amount of time and water for ground temperature water to replace the warm water in your cold water pipes as it does to replace ambient temperature water in your cold water pipes. Depending on your environment, the limited warm water returning in your cold water pipes will also help keep your pipes from freezing in the Winter and reduce condensation on your cold water pipes and commode in the Summer. Because the thermal convection (the rising of hot water and sinking of cooler water) takes place within the hot water tank, The HWL valve should work fine with hot water tanks below the valve, on the same level as the valve as well as hot water tanks on levels above the valve, pipes in attics, pipes in crawls, pipes in slabs, manifold systems (PEX), expansion tanks, vertical runs over 5-stories and linear runs over 250 ft.

Hi, Due to the nature of this system, I have a problem with this statement from a pervious poster: "This also gives me control over how much heated water enters my cold line so I don't have the 'waiting for cold water' problems which seemed to be the most common complaint found on the internet." For these systems to work, they MUST move water from the HOT line to the COLD line. It is basically a "mass flow". This means that the volume of water that is normally "wasted" in waiting for hot water is passed into the cold line. When waiting for hot water, the water starts cold or cool, gets warm, and then gets hot. There is a little "temperature mixing" in the lines but not that much. This same cool-warn-hot water must pass nearly the same distance into the cold line. So any volume of warm water that is below the temperature set on the unit will flow into the cold line. If you turn on the cold line, you will get this warm water first out of the cold tap. If you set the unit temperature lower you get lower HOT water temp, and then you would also get less warm water from the cold line, but it's still going to be warm. If you like your water really hot, then you can't escape more warm water from the cold. NONE of these systems eliminate warm water in the cold line. If you want your water HOT, not warm at the HOT tap, you are going to have to wait for cold water from the COLD tap. There are other factors involved here, like how lines are run, distances to heater etc, but most people putting a unit like this on the farthest faucets from the Hot water heater will share the same results. This can be fixed by installing a "HOT WATER RETURN" line, but this is more costly than most people want. It's a good option to install during new construction. Bottom line: The hotter you want the water at the TAP, the longer you will wait for cold water at the cold tap. These units do not magically remove the heated water from your cold line. A poster above seemed to imply that this unit fixed the warm-from-cold water issue. It does not; it only allows you to tweak it a bit. If you want ICE cold water to drink from the cold and HOT water from the hot right away, then you need a HOT RETURN LINE. With these systems you will have to wait for one or the other and depending on climate, this may or may not be an issue with you. If you are in a warm climate and used to warmish cold water, you may be happy with it. If you are from a colder climate and used to freezing cold water from the cold tap, you might not like it. MP

Here's a few things I learned while searching for my Hot Water Circulator. It's the things that manufactures don't tell you about before purchasing their product that makes researching a future purchase so valueable. Installing a hot water recirculator which has no pump requires specific conditions be met or the system will never work. Pumpless non-electrical circulation systems use convection to cause water to flow between the hot and cold pipes. For this to work your hot water heater must be considerably lower then the thermostatic valve installed at the farthest sink. Like a hot air balloon, heat rises in your pipes causing water to flow ever so slowly. Hot water convection systems like the Hot Water Lobster move water VERY slowly. By the time the hot water gets to the sink it's lost too much of it's heat to really make a difference. Non-electrical hot water convection circulation systems don't shut off. They move water all during the day and night wasting energy keeping warmer than room temperature water in the pipes, overworking your hot water heater and shortening its life expectancy. The end result with the Hot Water Lobster is your homes cold lines are warm all the time The only thing that really gets hot with this system is your temper after you see your first months gas bill. I also considered a WATTS PREMIER system which is a knockoff of the Grunfos comfort system, My conclusion is that its not worth it since it's bypass valve remains open anytime the pump is not running. The comfort valve used with the WATTS PREMIER system only close if hot water is present in the line. Try making salad or rinsing off lettuce with warm water coming out of your cold faucet. Of course you could wait a while for the valve to close and then rinse off your lettuce. What I don't like most about the WATTS PREMIER system is that it's pump runs continously during the scheduled on time period. Even after water is hot at the sink...it still runs. It's a design flaw that can waste alot of gas and time waiting for cold water. The Laing Autocirc system was also considered until finding out it's 1/200th horsepower pump doesn't work with a homes plumbing system that is buried in a cement foundation or cold climates. The pump just doesn't move the water quick enough. I later read in the installation instructions that the pump requires the homeowner to "periodically" disassemble the pump and clean it out to prevent mineral or other buildup. Failing to perform these annual periodic maintenance on the pump apparently voids the manufacturers warranty according to a number of disappointed homeowners who complained on the internet. There is also one called the ChilipepperApp. The ChilipepperApp requires you press a button to start the pump. Then I found a link to a guy who was seeking information on soundproofing this device in his home. He described it as sounding like a mix drink blender crushing ice. Still another owner stated it was so loud their neighbors could hear it. That was enough for me to cross the Chilipepper of the list. I did finally find one that avoided all those problems mentioned above. It has adjustable temperature control allowing you to tweak your hot water to a temperature that your satisfied with. This also gives me control over how much heated water enters my cold line so I don't have the 'waiting for cold water' problems which seemed to be the most common complaint found on the internet. I particularly like the feature which lets me get hot water during non-scheduled operating times. I simply press a button and it runs until hot water arrives, one time and stops. A convenience I couldn't find in other systems. Since this research was at my expense I'm not going to disclose the name of the Hot Water Circulator I bought. I should however let you know that it looks different than all the other systems I encountered. It could easily be mistaken for a water heating unit and not the Hot Water Circulator that it actually is. Happy hunting.

I recommend a Hot Water Lobster instant hot water valve over any other recirculation system! I've had recirculation systems in my homes for over 8 years now. They've saved me a lot of time and money, but pump systems always caused me problems. I went through 3 pumps over the first 5 years! They were costly, noisy, and didn't last long enough. I did some research and found the Hot Water Lobster that is pump free, creates no noise, and uses no electricity! It’s has a valve that automatically opens and closes based on your desired temperature setting. The Hot Water Lobster is only $179.95, has a 10-year warranty, uses your existing plumbing, and is very easy to install. It only took me 10 minutes. I bought one for my home and another for my cottage. It is great that I can keep my furnace off at the cottage during winter and not worry about my pipes freezing! I've had both units for 3 years now and am very impressed. Here's their site: www.hotwaterlobster.com