Recirc pump - new build

[Program333]

In the middle of building a new home. It is a decently wide ranch. We would like a recirculating pump to our master shower which is actually not super far from the water heater. We’re just impatient.

The “kids’” room is on the other side of the house - roughly 90’ from the water heater. One of the kids is in college and the other will be there in just over a year. So their bathrooms will not be used a lot after that.

The plumbers are wanting to put in a recirculating pump that serves our bedroom and both kids bathroom on a single pump. That seems inefficient to me as we would be serving hot water to their bathrooms even though they won’t be used. Am I thinking of this right?

Would it be a huge deal to NOT use a recirc pump to their bathrooms? Should we get a second pump for that room on a timer we can shut off?

Also, any issues with using recirc pumps with a well and water softener? I see some people online saying you should t, but then not saying why other than it might leak back and use more salt.

Appreciate opinions.

 

[John Gayewski]

You could get balancing valves and use them instead of two pumps. It would be adjusted to work for the whole house or part of the house. A cheap version is to use ball valves to balance but it's harder to balance. If the system is small enough balancing might not be necessary.

Don't build the house for your current circumstance build it for all circumstances. If you don't need hot water in those bathrooms instantly now your might in the future. You never know how things shake out. Sounds to me like you don't even need the other bedrooms either why build them? If you can see what I'm getting at.