Residential hot water circulation system and associated method

A hot water recirculation device, comprising:

• a water heater having a hot water outlet and a drain valve;
• a pump having a pump outlet and a pump inlet;
• a hot water supply conduit, wherein a first end of said hot water supply conduit is connected to said hot water outlet of said water heater;
• a bib connected to a second end of said hot water supply conduit;
• a pump inlet conduit which fluidly couples said bib to said pump inlet;
• a pump outlet conduit which fluidly couples said pump outlet to said drain valve of said water heater;
• a detector for sensing the presence of a human being and generating a control signal in response thereto;
• and
• a circuit for receiving said control signal and activating said pump in response thereto so as to cause hot water to be advanced from said water heater to said hot water supply conduit and through said bib.

A hot water recirculation device, comprising:

• a water heater having a hot water outlet and a drain valve;
• a pump having a pump outlet and a pump inlet;
• a hot water supply conduit, wherein a first end of said hot water supply conduit is connected to said hot water outlet of said water heater;
• a bib connected to a second end of said hot water supply conduit;
• a pump inlet conduit which fluidly couples said bib to said pump inlet;
• a pump outlet conduit which fluidly couples said pump outlet to said drain valve of said water heater;
• a detector for sensing the presence of light and generating a control signal in response thereto;
• and
• a circuit for receiving said control signal and activating said pump in response thereto so as to cause hot water to be advanced from said water heater to said hot water supply conduit and through said bib.

A residential water circulation system for supplying hot water and cold water, comprising:

• a water heater having (i) a cold water inlet, (ii) a hot water outlet, and (iii) a drain valve;
• a pump having a pump outlet and a pump inlet;
• a hot water supply conduit, wherein a first end of said hot water supply conduit is connected to said hot water outlet of said water heater;
• a bib connected to a second end of said hot water supply conduit;
• a pump inlet conduit which fluidly couples said bib to said pump inlet;
• a pump outlet conduit which fluidly couples said pump outlet to said drain valve of said water heater;
• and
• a cold water supply conduit fluidly coupled to said cold water inlet of said hot water heater, wherein (i) operation of said pump advances water along a hot water return path which includes each of said bib, said pump inlet conduit, said pump outlet conduit, and said drain valve, and (ii) water in said cold water supply conduit is isolated from water in said hot water return path when water is advanced along said hot water return path.