Conventional hot water circulation pumps typically operate on a continuous basis, 24/7, whether or not people are actually using hot water. This is an excessive amount of pumping as there are only two times that the pump should be circulating hot water: 1) When there is demand for hot water, and 2) When there is no hot water in the pipes. By using sensors that detect both hot water demand and loop water temperature, the D’MAND CIRC® operates more efficiently than any other control strategy that is available.

Installation of the D’MAND CIRC® usually takes between 1-2 hours and is done by a trained plumber or boiler technician.

The D’MAND CIRC® helps to reduce the amount of heat energy loss in the pipes by keeping the pump from running when it doesn’t need to. Minimizing these heat losses means that your water heater or boiler consumes less fuel to make up for these losses.

The D’MAND CIRC® has been proved to save 10-30% of a hot water system’s energy consumption in independent studies. These results vary from building to building depending on a number of factors, including: Building size, occupancy, pipe conditions and water heater configuration.

When potable water is heated, the chemicals that are used to treat it take on more abrasive characteristics. Circulating this hot water through pipes on a continuous basis creates friction and slowly degrades the pipes from within, eventually leading to small pinhole leaks. These pinhole leaks, if not detected, can become bigger over time and create water damage to the building on top of lowering the efficiency of the water heating system. Using integrated smart controls, the D’MAND CIRC® shuts itself off when hot water delivery is not required and may operate as little as 1 hour per day, or less. This substantially reduces the amount of friction and wear on the pipes, saving you time and money on costly repairs and wasted water.

The D’MAND CIRC® can be retrofitted into any existing building that has a hot water recirculation system. Typical buildings include: Multifamily, hotels/motels, schools, dormitories, office, retail….etc. Even if the building does not have a dedicated return line, the D’MAND CIRC® may be installed at the furthest fixture on the line and activated using motion sensors or push buttons from any fixture in the building.

This varies from building to building and is in part a function of hot water usage patterns. In many multifamily buildings, for example, the D’MAND CIRC® may run 1-2 hours per day. However, in a building that has set schedules, such as an office or school, it may run much less.

Some utilities or state agencies do offer rebates as an incentive for implementing the D’MAND CIRC®. To see if your building qualifies for any local or regional rebate incentives, click here..

No, the D’MAND CIRC is not like the residential version that goes under the sink. Rather, this a control system for the main recirculation pump that is located in the boiler room. Operating the pump using the D’MAND controls will reduce the run time of the pump down to only about 1 hour per day total while still providing fast, safe hot water when people demand it.

The pump is a Grundfos model UP 26-99 BFC

The flow switch that is used to sense demand in the building is triggered at flow rates of about 1 gallon per minute(GPM)

The pump will turn off once the temperature sensor detects water temperatures of about 107 degrees on the return line.

No. The D’MAND CIRC will only work in a domestic hot water application where there is an open loop system. Closed loop systems such as chilled water and condenser water loops will not work as demand is only sensed when water is leaving the system.

An aquastat will automatically turn the pump off when hot water is in the loop, thus constantly keeping it hot. Whereas demand controls will shut it off when it gets hot, but then allow the pipes to cool to ambient temperatures if there is no demand. It is during these periods where most of the energy savings are being achieved.

The D’MAND CIRC is not currently able to interface with an EMS, but changes are being made so that in the near future this will be possible.

No maintenance is needed for the pump, other than making sure that the temperature sensor is secure in its placement and covered with insulation tape.

There is no greater risk of legionella bacteria growing in this situation than there would be in any home or building that has no recirculation system at all.

The expansion rate of copper under the temperature changes that are typical in a domestic system (50-150 degrees F) is so small, that it barely represents the width of a human hair. If this expansion and contraction of the pipes were a legitimate maintenance issue, it would be epidemic as most households do not have any recirculation at all. Needless to say, most issues related to hot water pipe failures is due to bad plumbing, continuous recirculation or a combination of both.