The repair can be very simple, often only requiring the replacement of faulty mixing cartridges and check valves. This can steadily increase hot water bills for years and raise complaints from residents whose comfort is affected by the problem. Single-handle fixtures are frequently at fault, as the mixing cartridge within these valves can wear out over time and provide a pathway for crossover. Bypass, crossover, and “ghost flow” all refer to the unintended mixing of hot and cold water that can happen at faucets, showerheads, and washing machines. You may have heard a shareholder complain of cold water that never got cold or hot water that never got hot you may have had this experience yourself. Hot-Cold Water Crossover & Piping Imbalance Demand controls have been shown to reduce water heating energy bills by 10% to 15%, including both reduced pump electricity and hot water heating fuel. Retrofitting an existing building with these controls costs only a few thousand dollars and can be completed in less than a day. Aside from insulating exposed pipes and bringing hot water supply to a constant minimum temperature, this is the most cost-effective way to reduce energy waste in your hot water system. These “Demand Controls” do this by sensing when hot water is in use and whether the recirculation loop is still warm enough. There are a variety of control system options available to reduce this waste, but the most effective control is one that operates the recirculation pump only when it is needed to maintain resident comfort. This minimizes wait time for hot water in the shower but results in a great deal of wasted energy. A pump keeps hot water flowing through the pipes as they gradually lose heat to the surrounding air. Most multifamily buildings use a recirculation system where one or more piping loops constantly deliver hot water to apartments from the water heater in the basement. Hot Water Recirculation: Controlling for Comfort and Savings
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