The thermal
convection (warm water rising and cool water sinking), which takes place
within your existing hot water tank, and the normal use of cold water
create a higher water pressure on the hot water side of your plumbing
system. This pressure differential circulates the warm water through your
plumbing system and the HWL.
When the hot water cools at the Hot Water Lobster Valve, the valve slowly opens allowing the cooler water to cross through the valve to the cold-water side of the plumbing. The thermal convection (within the hot water tank) draws the cooler water (through the cold water pipes) to the bottom of the hot water tank, while it forces the hotter water (from the hot water tank) into the hot water pipes. When the hot water reaches the HWL, the HWL slowly closes and stops the crossover flow of water. The cycle repeats when the HWL cools below the adjustable temperature setting.
Besides the fact that the electrical pumps require an electrical source or operate, the noise level of the pumps is often noticeable (waking you up at night) and can also cause interference with television and radio reception (especially as the pumps get older). The typical pump life in these systems is only 18-24 months (as their warranties reflect). Whereas the Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is silent and has a 10-year warranty.
Since the thermal convection (the rising of hot water and sinking of cooler water) takes place within the hot water tank, the HWL has been successful with hot water tanks below the HWL, on the same level as the HWL as well as hot water tanks on levels above the HWL, vertical runs over 5-stories and linear runs over 200 ft.
Although we have had limited success with tank-less hot water systems, the Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is designed
to be used with hot water tanks (where thermal convection takes place which circulates
the hot water).
The
Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is
intended to create a closed loop within your hot water system. Typically
one HWL located at the end (or close to the end)
of your plumbing run is all that is necessary. This keeps hot water in
the main hot water run which allows other facets and showers (between your
hot water tank and the HWL) to also have faster
hot water. In the event you more than
one plumbing run from your hot water tank, a HWL
at the end of the two extreme plumbing runs (opposite ends of the house) may be
beneficial.
Because the Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is a do-it-yourself solution
(simple 10-minute installation with easy to follow instructions),
you will not need a plumber. However,
there are many plumbers and handymen throughout the US and Canada which
have installed HWL units. Please check with your local plumbing supply
store or local hardware store for their recommendations local installers in
your area.
All HWL components used in the Hot
Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve Assembly meet the standard
plumbing approvals of “CSA”, “UL”,
“ASNI” and “MEA”. We are not aware of any
code restrictions for the use of this type of valve. Many communities promote the HWL
for water conservation and energy savings.
However, it is always a good idea to check with your local community for
any code restrictions.
With the vast variables found from plumbing
system to plumbing system (type of pipe, pipe placement, size of pipe, number
of bends, length of pipe temperature of water in pipes ambient temperature of
air, air flow, efficiency of your hot water tank and etc.) the actual amount of
savings is difficult to determine.
However, consider that instead of replacing the hot water in your hot
water tank with cold ground temperature water (while waiting for hot
water), the HWL allows warmer water (temperature
adjustable) to circulate back to your hot water tank for reheating-which not
only saves the cost of the water and water treatment charges (sewer charges),
it also takes less energy to bring the warmer water (being re-circulated) up to
temperature.
If you will not require instant hot water for an extended period of time, you may adjust temperature setting on the HWL to a lower temperature. This will prevent the water from re-circulating unless the valve temperature drops below the set temperature.
During a cycle, the cooled hot water returns to the hot water tank through
the cold water pipes. Therefore, the water in the cold water pipes (between the Hot Water Lobster Instant
Hot Water Valve and the hot water tank) will be warmer. However,
most of the time this warmer water is a benefit (washing dishes, laundry, hands
and etc). If cooler water is desired, it takes the same amount of water
for cooler water to replace the warm water in your cold water pipes as
when cooler water replaces ambient temperature water in your cold water pipes. As the warm water sits in the pipes it will
drop to ambient temperature (similar to cooler water in the
pipes raising to ambient temperature).
Adjusting the HWL
temperature control to a cooler setting will reduce warm water in the cold
water pipes. However, reducing the temperature setting too much also
reduces the effective recirculation cycle.
The
Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is
temperature adjustable from about 45 Deg. Far. to about 150 Deg. Far. The Hot Water
Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is designed to allow the hot water at
the HWL to be at the full temperature of your
hot water tank setting (usually 120-140 Deg. Far.). The expansion and contraction of the linkage closes and opens the
HWL valve slowly (taking 10-20 minutes to fully
close or open). Because the majority of
the time thermal convection alone provides only a trickle of water flowing
through the HWL, by the time the valve reaches
temperature and fully closes, the water at the HWL
should be at or close to the temperature of your hot water tank.
If
you will not require instant hot water for an extended period of time, you may
turn down temperature control knob. The HWL
valve will not open unless the temperature at the HWL
drops below the set temperature. This setting is handy when instant hot
water will not be required for extended periods.
In
the event you loose heat or power in your home, the HWL
is designed to open once the temperature of the valve drops below its
temperature adjustable setting. When open the HWL
will allow the warm water to circulate through your hot and cold pipes-aiding
in preventing your pipes from freezing.
The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve comes completely assembled and tested for standard under sink mounting. In most cases showers also have male 1/2" NPT fittings to connect the HWL. However, if your shower has different fittings, you may purchase standard adapters at you local hardware or plumbing store.
The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot
Water Valve is designed to be MAINTENANCE FREE!
The HWL has very few moving parts. It is a solid
brass valve body with an adjustable mechanical thermal controller (isolated
from the water) and a stainless steel valve stem enclosed in a mounting
box. To date we have not experienced problems with hard water
deposits. In the event deposits do stop the functionality of your unit,
the HWL also carries a 10-year
reconditioning/replacement warranty.
We automatically expedite all online credit card
orders. When you purchase your Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot
Water Valve online using your credit card (through our secure Yahoo! Store),
your order should arrive in 3-4 business days. You can save $15.00 in shipping
and handling costs by printing, completing and mailing the Mail
Order Form to us (along with your check). Mail Orders should arrive in
10-12 business days after we receive your order.
Wholesale pricing
is available for quantity purchases of the Hot Water
Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve.
The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water
Valve also offers opportunities for Independent Sales Representatives.
Simply email customerservice@hotwaterlobster.com
with your request for Wholesale Pricing or Independent Sales Representative
information.
Last revised: Date 12/22/07