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Author:
JeffT (NJ)
I have this idea to solve the dilemma of hot water delay vs. volume.
I have a bathroom (sink, toilet, bath/shower) a long way from the water heater. I'll run 3/4" pex for the cold. I'm thinking of running two 1/2" hot lines; one will normally feed the sink, the other will only feed the shower/tub.
But what if I allow the shower/tub to draw from the sink hot line as well? I'll put a check valve between the hot lines that keeps the sink from drawing from the shower/tub feed.
Won't that give me fastest possible hot water for the sink and high hot water volume for showering and filling the tub?
Please debunk this idea before I try it!
Thanks!
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
packy (MA)
interesting idea..
i would think that the resistance of the check valve (even though it is facing the correct direction) might not allow very much water to cross over? but then again i'm only guessing????
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
If your shower valve was 3/4" and you used a swing check valve you would probably be on track. The openings in your 1/2"shower valve is probably no more than 3/8" so I don't think you'll notice any increase of volume by using two 1/2" pipes.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
Insulate both of them.
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Author:
JeffT (NJ)
Thanks all for your responses. Will, indeed, insulate both.
Regarding fixture inlet sizes I'm thinking of using some high flow fixtures so I'm guessing they won't be much restricted from full 1/2 Cu I.D. I'm trying to address the difference from the .485" I.D. on the 1/2" pex vs. .545" I.D. on the 1/2 Cu.
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Author:
sharp1 (IL)
If 2 water lines are feeding the same valve equally it will take 2x as long to get hot water to the valve. If unequal feed, one line will have hot and the slower line will still be flowing cold water. A separate 1/2" pex line to each valve will get hot water faster than a 3/4" feeding both. Assuming you have a standard shower valve with 1/2" connections.
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Author:
steve_g (CA)
I feel like I'm missing something here. If you're going to run 2 hot lines to one bathroom, use one as a return to recirculate the hot water. Put a small recirc pump & check valve on it. That would be the fastest way to get hot water to the bathroom.
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