Circulation Pump FAQ

FAQ

1. Installation Attention
2. In the following two situations: a) The water heater does not have a return pipe; b) The water heater has a return pipe. Which pump should I choose to use? In what type of situation can I use a flow switch and a timer?
3. How to use it in an underfloor heating system?
4. What is lowest the power usage can be?
5. What's the relationship between ⅠⅡ Ⅲ and automatic & manual ?
6. What's special about the new products?
7. The difference between circulating pumps available in the market place.
8. My pump leaks.
9. It turns on automatically, but fails to stop.(Installed with water flow switch)
10. If i hook this up with a tp smart plug could i keep it in the on and then set up a routine or have alexa turn it on?

We recently provided on our website a diagram providing installation details for different types of use along with new product performance information and responses to questions posed by our customers.

Some details are provided below for the questions most frequently asked by customers:

Q1. Installation Attention

Take a customer email as an example：

Q2. In the following two situations: a) The water heater does not have a return pipe; b) The water heater has a return pipe. Which pump should I choose to use? In what type of situation can I use a flow switch and a timer?

A: Our RS-16G models are in fact suitable for all of these types of installation but specific accessories are required and some adjustments need to be made, these are outlined below:

   a) The water heater does not have a return pipe.

If the water heater does not have a return pipe then under normal circumstances the hot water exiting the water heater is not in a loop. In order to get hot water immediately a water cycle needs to be established to enable the water heater to work properly and to transfer the hot water to the correct pipe.

Required accessories: Two Three-way valves, one check valve, PTFE tape and other items as required.

Optional accessories: A timer and a water flow switch.(BUY FLOW SWITCH)

Method: Connect the furthest hot water pipe and cold water pipe with a three-way valve and a check valve. The check valve arrow shows the direction the cold water will be flowing. Install the circulation pump on to the cold water inlet pipe of the water heater, remembering though to keep the pump shaft horizontal.

Principle: The circulation pump moves hot water round the water loop through the hot and cold water pipes, and the cold water pipe, to ensure that the water is available to go to a hot water tap when it is turned on.

Advantage: Turn the tap on and get hot water immediately.

Disadvantage: The pump could be working for a long time leading to the cold water pipe heating up.

Further improvements: Add a timer on, by doing this you can have the pump working during a specific time period and you can set the cycle time according to the length of your hot water pipe, thereby avoiding heated water in the cold water pipe.

    b) The water heater has a return pipe.

Congratulations, your plumbers have saved you a lot of trouble. You just need to install the circulation pump on to the water inlet pipe. If you are concerned about a large water heater bill it is recommended that you install a timer on to the circulation pump. Use the same method that is outlined above but you can increase the cycle time though so you do not have to worry about cold water coming out of the hot water tap.

TIPS: About Flow Switches

We recommend that if you do not have a timer in your system it’s best not to install a flow switch. Although this may inconvenience you a little bit by having to wait 2 to 6 seconds after turning the tap on for the pump to work automatically. At this point turning off the hot water tap eliminates the need to wait for the hot water to come out but this wastes cold water. The problem is that the hot water will circulate until you close the circulation pump manually.

In addition we would recommend installing a flow switch for vertical installations, this is to prevent a lack of pressure and water being affected by gravity in the pipes.

Q3. How to use it in an underfloor heating system?

A: In this system the circulating pump is used in conjunction with a thermostat, diverter and different  types of valves to create a hot water closed loop. The circulation pump will be turned on and closed by the thermostat to precisely control the underfloor heating system, there is no need to use the timer or flow switch to assist.

Q4: What is lowest the power usage can be?

A: RS-16 section of the current performance curve segment.

The pump has a third gear adjustment function meaning that the lowest stable working power is at about 25 to 30W, start-up will be greater than 40W though. The actual power usage of the other two gears are less than the rated reference value; the power will exceed the rated value when the overload (water blocking) is operating.

Q5: What's the relationship between ⅠⅡⅢ and automatic & manual ?

A: ⅠⅡⅢ refers to different pump power. Ⅰ means minimum power, Ⅲ means maximum power.

Automatic and manual flow switch function introduction:

Automatic: The Automatic stop flow switch is enabled, the pump works when the water is flowing, if there is no flow then the pump stops.

Manual : The Water flow switch function is invalid, if there is no water flow the pump will always work.

Q6: What's special about the new products?

A: We are about to launch two new products, a variable frequency pump and a multi-function pump.

• The variable frequency pump can automatically adjust the working temperature depending on the system temperature, the minimum working power is only 4W. It allows for higher efficiency, automation and the higher pursuit of the group.
• The multi-function pump has a wide range of applications, it has in effect five functions in one machine: automatic pressurisation, measurement, timing, temperature control and cycle.

1) Autoclave function: The pump runs automatically when the tap is turned on and turning the tap off automatically stops the pump. The maximum pressure is 1.4 Bar and the maximum flow is 530 GPH. When the water flow in the pipe is less than 21 GPH the pumps automatic booster function fails.

2) Metering function: Calculate the number x 10, that is a unit of 10 litres; it can be set to 10 to 990 litres.

3) Chronograph function: One unit of the chronograph is equal to one minute, you can set from 1 to 99 minutes.

4) Temperature control function: The internal settings are 25 to 38℃. At 25℃ the motor is told to run and the maximum power is 25W. If the temperature dropped to 15°C, meaning that there is no hot water in the system, the pump will switch off. After a period of 15 minutes it starts for a minute to detect whether there is any hot water in the system. If the temperature rises to 38 °C the pump will keep running at a low speed on a 4W power cycle.

5) For use in floor heating or water cooling circulation the maximum power is 45W, the maximum flow is 1.6 tons and the maximum lift is 10 meters.

Q7: The difference between circulating pumps available in the market place.

A: What are the characteristics of the different circulating pumps that are available in the market place? What are they best used for?

1) WATTS

This product consists of a circulation pump with a timer, a four-way bridge valve (with temperature control function) and the installation of pipes.

The product offers two intelligent controls in one, temperature control as well as timing, for home water heating systems solving hot water circulation problems debugging can be done thereby ensuring that hot water is delivered.

Principle: A timer to control the hot water cycle time, installing a bridge valve to prevent cold water pipes having hot water in them. The bridge valve is on, by default, but the thermostat closes the valve when the water temperature exceeds 90°F (approx.). This ensures that hot water does not flow into the cold water pipe, even when the pump is operating.

Advantages: Users do not need any extra plumbing installation for the return pipe, you also have hot water that can save about 1W per gallon of water per year.

Disadvantages: The bridge valve is a consumable item and replacing it is expensive. If the bridge valve is damaged the cold water pipe will have hot water in it.

2) LAING

This product is a circulating pump with a timer, thermostat and a four-way valve combination and is used for home based water heaters in hot water cycle loop systems.

Principle: The pump is installed on to the hot water pipe which is connected with the cold water pipe. When the pump head senses the temperature is below 85 °F the pump will turn on automatically, the cold water passes to the heater to be heated and is re-circulated through the hot water pipe. The external timer is beneficial for families as it allows them to set their preferred  working hours.

Advantages: No return pipe, the installation is easier, as long as the shortest hot water pipe is near the wall plug on the line. The minimum energy consumption is only 14W.

Disadvantages: Expensive and maintenance is difficult.

3) Other single function pumps that only support circulation

These pumps are cheap but they only offer a single feature. They can be equipped with simple smart accessories, but cannot solve the problem systematically.

The reasons for choosing them may be: Cheap, flange joints, ⅠⅡ Ⅲ power regulation, existing solutions and ease of purchasing spare parts.

Q8: My flow switch leaks.