I live in a 24 unit condo complex with a gas water heater with a large vertical tank and a secondary tank about four feet away. The two tanks are connected by a 1 1/2" copper pipe recirculating system and a 1/6 HP 1725 rpm Bell & Gossett pump. The piping is only about 4 years old, but recently sprung a small leak in a 90 degree elbow near the heater. The plumber who replaced the elbow said it looked like the pipe installer failed to file off burrs inside the pipe when the elbow was installed which caused a disruption of the flow and eventually the leak. That plumber's boss is now telling us we need to replace the entire copper system with PEX and a smaller pump to reduce the water flow. I realize that copper could develop more pin holes later, but am currently thinking we should avoid the big expense of replacement and stick with our current copper.

Install a valve after the pump and reduce the flow rate until it just keeps the pipe warm.

Thanks for the advice. I already have valves on both sides of the pump and I just partially closed the one downstream of pump and going towards the heater. I really appreciate your advice.

you need an orifice union juuust after the pump and upstream of 10 pipe diameters length of straight piping


the principle:





you want juuusssst enough flow to keep the pipe 'almost' as hot as the heater storage


partially closing the downstream 'service valve' will cause further erosion including the valve itself

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

the boss makes no sense.
if you change to 1 1/2 inch pex, why would you also need a new pump ?
throttle down one of the valves, leave the piping the way it is and have a merry christmas.

Thanks for your advice. It makes sense and I really appreciate it.



Edited 1 times.

Thanks very much. Your advice makes a lot of sense and I will pursue it with our plumber.