Return tee for hot water recirculation system

A return tee system comprising:

• a cold water supply line configured to supply cold water from a cold water source to a water heater;
• a cold line integrated check valve communicatively coupled to the cold water supply line such that cold water only enters the cold water supply line from the cold water source and only cold water exits the cold water supply line through the cold line integrated check valve, said cold water integrated check valve configured to prevent reverse flow of water into the cold water supply line;
• a return line configured to recirculate cooled, previously-heated water from a hot water supply line to the water heater;
• a return line integrated check valve communicatively coupled to the return line such that cooled water enters the return line from the hot water supply line and exits the return line through the return line integrated check valve;
• said return line integrated check valve configured to prevent reverse flow of water into the return line;
• a cold water supply inlet communicatively coupled to the water heater and configured to deliver cold and cooled water to said water heater;
• and
• a return tee communicatively coupled to the cold line integrated check valve, the return line integrated check valve, and the cold water supply inlet, and configured to provide cold water from the cold water supply line and cooled water from the return line to the cold water supply inlet;
• wherein the cold line integrated check valve, the return line integrated check valve, and the return tee form a single integrated unit and
• wherein cold water enters the return tee from the cold water supply line through the cold line integrated check valve and cooled water enters the return tee from the return line and through the return line integrated check valve, and wherein cold and cooled water enter the water heater from the return tee through the cold water supply inlet.

A method for supplying hot water comprising the steps of:

• providing a hot water recirculation system comprising a water heater configured to heat water, a hot water supply line communicatively coupled to the water heater and at least one fixture and configured to provide heated water from the water heater to the at least one fixture, a cold water supply line configured to provide cold water from a cold water source to the water heater, a return line communicatively coupled to the hot water supply line and configured to deliver cooled water from said hot water supply line to the water heater, and a return tee communicatively coupled to the return line, the cold water supply line, and the water heater, and configured to provide cooled water from the return line and cold water from the cold water supply line to the water heater, the return tee including a cold line integrated check valve through which only cold water from the a cold water source flows and a return line integrated check valve whereby the cold line integrated check valve, the return line integrated check valve and the return tee are integrated to form a single unit;
• activating at least one fixture to produce heated water;
• recirculating cooled water from the hot water supply line, through the return line, and to the water heater upon activation of the at least one fixture when cooled water is at a temperature less than a temperature of the heated water;
• delivering cold water from the cold water supply line to the water heater upon activation of the at least one fixture;
• heating water at the water heater;
• and
• dispensing heated water from the water heater, through the hot water supply line, and to the at least one fixture such that the heated water to the at least one fixture upon activating said fixture.