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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 top of 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.
The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is temperature controlled, which means you have instant hot water whenever you need it-unlike the pump systems that only deliver hot water for a brief period each day. In addition, electrical pumps require an electrical source or operate and make installation more complicated; the noise level of the pumps is often noticeable (which can wake you up) and can also cause interference with television and radio reception (especially as the pumps get older). These pumps typically wear out in 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, we have had success with hot water tanks below the valve, on the same level as the valve as well as hot water tanks on levels above the valve, pipes in attics, pipes in crawls, pipes in slabs, manifold systems (PEX), expansion tanks, vertical runs over 5-stories and linear runs over 250 ft.
Although the Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve was designed
to be used with hot water tanks (where the thermal convection takes place), we
have had limited success with tank-less hot water systems. Hot water will cycle through the Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve whenever
cold water is periodically used anywhere in the house (lowering the pressure on
the cold water side of the plumbing system). This is often enough circulation
to bring the hot water all the way to the HWL.
The Hot Water Lobster
Instant Hot Water Valve is intended to create an open loop within your hot
water system. Although the Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve can
be installed anywhere in your plumbing system, for best results we recommend
installing the unit at the end or close to the end of your plumbing run (at the
fixture furthest from you hot water heater). This allows other facets
or showers along your hot waterlines (between your heater and the HWL) to also have faster hot water (by keeping the
main hot-water-run hot). Multiple units may be used if desired. In
the event you have separate plumbing runs from your hot water tank: two or
more units may be beneficial.
Because the Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot
Water Valve is a do-it-yourself solution (simple 15-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 of 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.
The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is
thermostatically controlled and operates only when the hot water temperature at
the HWL drops below the adjustable temperature setting. There are so many
variables from plumbing system to plumbing system calculating energy saving is
difficult.
Generally we found that in most
homes if hot water is used at least twice daily, the Hot Water Lobster saves energy
(less energy is used reheating the already warm water). Instead of
replacing the water (wasted down your drain-while waiting for hot water) with
cold ground temperature water (which has to be heated from a low temperature),
the Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve allows the
already warmed water to circulate back to your hot water tank for reheating.
This recirculation of already warmed water not only saves the cost of the
water, water treatment charges (sewer charges), it also takes less energy to
bring the already warmed water (being re-circulated) up to temperature.
If you will not require instant hot water for an extended period of time, you may turn the temperature control knob to a lower setting. 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. You will probably only
notice the cold water periodically being warmer at the faucet where the HWL Valve is mounted. 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 and time to reach ground
temperature water as when ground temperature 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 (or completely off) 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 140 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 5-15 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.
We recommend initially setting the HWL temperature about 15 Deg. Far. below the
temperature of the water in your water heater. You can then adjust the HWL temperature higher of lower to suit your needs.
If you will not require instant hot water for an
extended period of time, you may turn down (or completely off) the 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.
The HWL is designed to
open once the temperature of the valve drops below its temperature adjustable setting
(even if your home looses power or heat). 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 or flexible water lines 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 PayPal’s
secure site), your order should arrive in 3-4 business days. Currently you can
save $10.00 in Expediting Charges by printing, completing and mailing the Mail
Order Form to us (along with your check). Mail Orders should arrive in 8-12
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.
The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve
will have no effect on your icemaker or refrigerator water. Modern hot water
tanks do not introduce any contaminates into the water system and will not
adversely effect the water quality in your home. Icemakers use such a low
volume of water that the water used is usually at ambient temperature
before entering your refrigerator.
Properly installed expansion
tanks do not affect the operation
of the Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve.
The Hot
Water Lobster Mounting Box (which encloses the valve) is less than 3”
wide (6” wide with tees) X 3” deep X 6” tall.
Four 12” Flexible Water Lines are pre-assembled to the valve tees (two
on the hot side and two on the cold side). Two 12” Flexible Water Lines have a
3/8” brass female compression fitting (for connecting to your hot and cold
water supply valves) and two 12” Flexible Water Lines have a ½” brass female
pipe thread fitting (for connecting to the hot and cold fittings on your
faucet).
The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot water Valve may
be installed in any position. The flexible lines can be looped (not less than
2" radius) to accommodate a variety of installation applications. If necessary, you may also purchase standard
adapters or various length waterlines at your local hardware or plumbing supply
store.
Yes, as long as
the water softener or filtration system is not plumbed between the Hot Water Lobster Valve and your hot water tank, the Hot Water Lobster Valve should work fine. For
example a properly installed whole-house water softener system or
filtration system do not interfere with the operation of the Hot Water Lobster.
Yes, as long as
your water boiler heating system has an open plumbing circuit (no “fresh water”
flow restrictions) and the heating tank introduces the cold water at the bottom
of the tank (usually and internal pipe takes the cold water to the bottom of
the heating tank) and draws the hot water from the top of the tank (to allow
thermal convection within the tank to properly circulate the water through your
plumbing system).
Yes, the Hot Water
Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve works excellent with dedicated return
lines. Simply cap one of the cold water tees on the Hot Water Lobster Valve and connect the other end of
the cold water tee to your dedicated return line. The benefit of using a
dedicated return line is that you will not get warm water mixed into your
regular cold water pipe as the water returns to your heater for reheating.
Yes, the Hot Water
Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve works equally well with either single
handled faucets and double handled faucets.
Yes. The RF Meter Shield. This low cost
"smart meter" cover is easy to install and aids in protecting
consumers for RF radiation and EMF radiation emitted by "smart
meters". For more information, please visit www.RFMeterShield.com.
Last revised: Date 7/08/14