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

[Bluebeard]

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?

[Bluebeard]

You're right, the vent


I wouldn't intentionally dump the HW, but if some got in there, in the fall cool nights, it wouldn't hurt anything. I plan on shutting it off after it circulates, so the amount of hot to enter the tank should be minimial. But if we were in a very cold situation, having the ability to dump a little hot into the cold MIGHT be a good thing???

[RJsfishin]

You'd dump it into the vent line, not the fill.

And whats w/ dumping hot water into your FWT ??? I thought it was cold water you were wanting to dump. When it turns warm or hot, doncha shut it off, or am I missing part of it ??
I see very little hot water dumping in the FWT.

[Bluebeard]

Actually I got a PM from johsuajim and he re-routes the return to the fill line. What I might do is both: In the shoulder months- especially in the evenings when it gets cold- I may add a tee and two manual valves downstream from my electric valve. One side would go to the fill hose (where the water tank will get warm water dumped back in it), and the other (for use in the summer when I don't want to warm my water tank) would go to just in front of the water pump. That way I could choose where to dump the recirc water. I like it. Thanks for the ideas, guys

[deltabravo]

Bluebeard wrote:
My issue is wasting good water while waiting for the hot water to flow.

Take that good water and use it to flush the toilet, or put it in said pitcher and chuck the water out the door.

Or use a 2 liter soda bottle to put that "extra" water in, then pour it back in the tank. Actually, make the wife do it since she's the one wasting the water.

[Bluebeard]

Sharkbite fittings are awesome, but unfortunately they don't have what I am looking for. I think BigDog nailed the solution.

[Bluebeard]

Myredracer- Personally, I think your solution is good, but could be quite a bit expensive both in parts and time. Since you already have a pump pressurizing your system, why would you need another? I think BigDog's idea is the best. You don't need to do extensive mods and it will simply work. No need to replumb in locations that are a pain to get to.

[gbopp]

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]

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]

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]

Moved from technology corner

[korbe]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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