My wife runs the water in the sink until she gets hot water. When dry camping, that wastes a lot of water. I want to run a recirc line by cutting into my hot water line at the farthest point from the hot water heater, put a tee on it and have a switched valved that when turned on, opens and recircs the cold (but warming) water back into the fresh water tank. Does someone make a bulkhead fitting that you can use to insert from the outside and screw it tight from the outside to keep it from leaking? Since you cannot reach into those tanks, there is no way for you to hold a nut tight on the inside. I thought I searched on the net and found one, but I guess I didn't bookmark it. Any ideas?

How will you get the hot water to flow? The water heater and the furthest point in the water line are at the same pressure. It's only when a faucet is,opened that flow takes place...

First Question: when I am boondocking, that water faucet isn't always nearby. Second Question: by opening the tee'd valve on the hot water line, it is no different than using the hot water in the shower, only the cold water in the hot water line is being evacuated into the cold water tank. I would leave the valve open for maybe 20 seconds so the hot water has a chance to refill the line up to the tee, and then I would turn it off.

Also, another answer to the first question: I am not so much concerned about wasting the water as I am concerned about filling my grey tank with clean water. I want to extend my stay as long as possible. We went out a couple of weeks ago for 2 days, drycamping and she almost filled the grey tank with water she was running waiting for the hot to flow. Why waste the storage space?

> Recirculate hot water-completed-pictures added

Get a 1 gallon pitcher and use that water to flush the toilet.

I want to add a hot water recirc line to my trailer

gbopp
Explorer
Sep 22, 2015
I'm not sure what kind of bulkhead fitting you need. Did you check the website for SharkBite fittings?

Maybe one of their connectors will help?
myredracer
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2015
I wonder if what's showed in this diagram could be a simple solution in an RV rather than the typical separate return line? Maybe use an on/off switch or timer switch? Pump would have to be rated for hot water use. Would also depend on how your piping is routed between HWT and faucets.

Have often thought a recirc line & pump would be a good idea. Even if not dry camping, would save on unnecessarily putting water into the grey tank if no full hookups available. In our case, I plan to remove the underbelly one day and would modify the piping as needed while in there.
Bluebeard
Explorer
Sep 22, 2015
Korbe- yeah, but it is a hassle moving jugs around, but that too is an idea. And to tell you the truth, my wife wouldn't even think to put the basin in the sink. Too much hassle, in my eyes. This way, she pushes a button for a minute. No fuss, no muss.
MrWizard
Moderator
Sep 22, 2015
Moved from technology corner
korbe
Explorer
Sep 22, 2015
We dry camp often and our water is precious too. While in this mode, we have plastic removable basins in the sink and no water goes down the drain. It will either get used to wash or rinse, or later down the toilet. No Mod necessary.
Bluebeard
Explorer
Sep 22, 2015
Big dog- Now I like that idea. I don't have to worry about bulkheads, and it would be an easy mod. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I like the idea of not filling the cold tank with warm water. Great idea..... not sure why I didn't think of that.... I've been battling with the bulkhead thing for days.
Bluebeard
Explorer
Sep 22, 2015
Smkettner- I guess that is another option, but I don't have $217 I want to spend on another pump. I think my idea is much easier and cheaper.

ChooChooMan- Actually, I already do that. I use the grey water to flush the toilet. My issue is wasting good water while waiting for the hot water to flow.
Big_Dog2
Explorer
Sep 22, 2015
I hope I didn't misunderstand what you are trying to do. Here is my solution. Install the T and valve at the far end of the hot water line. Return the water to a T just before the intake to the water pump (not to the fresh water tank). This will recirculate the cool water and you will not be adding any warm/hot water to your fresh water tank if you get distracted for a short time. This will allow you to still use the cool water in the water line and not fill your grey tank (and conserve your fresh water).

Hope this helps. Good luck with your project.
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Sep 22, 2015
Get a 1 gallon pitcher and use that water to flush the toilet.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 22, 2015
> Recirculate hot water-completed-pictures added