How to Replace a Hot Water Circulating Pump

A hot water circulating pump is very critical in the distribution of hot water in a home. The time will come when it eventually breaks down and you may have to replace it entirely. Without it, there will be no hot water running in your pipes and coming out of your faucet or shower. Replacing it immediately is therefore a must.

Step 1: Preparation

The first thing you have to do is purchase the exact specs of pump you are replacing or find another kind of pump that will suit your needs. After you have done this, turn off the power on your old pump. Then go to the circuit breaker and turn off the portion that powers the tank. This is to make sure that there is no current running through it. There is a plate at the side of the hot water circulating pump. Remove it and then remove the wires connected to the pump.

Step 2: Disconnect Old Pump from the Pipes

With a wrench, loosen the points where the pipes connect to the hot water circulating pump. There are supposed to be two pipes that the pump is attached to. One is the inlet, where the pump connects to the reservoir tank. The other is the outlet pipe, where it attaches to the main water pipe going into the house. Carefully remove the pump from these pipes. Upon removing, some trapped water may flow out, so be ready with some rags and a bucket to clean this up.

Step 3: Attach New Pump

Fit the new pump to where the old one used to be. Be sure to use the allocated washers that came with the pump to prevent leaks later on. Fit the inlet and outlet pipes to their corresponding places and fasten them via the bolts that you removed earlier. Do not tighten them too much since you night damage the threads of the bolts.

Step 4: Preparing the New Hot Water Circulating Pump

With the tank now in place, open the valves for the inlet and outlet pipes in order to let the water flow into the system. Some pumps have speed setting knobs. Set it similar to that of the old one. The pump should also have a bleed valve on the side or underneath it. Open it to expel any trapped air in the system to avoid air lock. This is when the trapped air in the water-filled system rises to the highest point. Since it’s lighter than water it will eventually restrict water flow. Open the plate at the side of the pump and connect the electrical wires to the terminals. Replace the panel so the wires are covered.

Step 5: Testing the Pump

Test the water pump by turning on the breaker and flicking the switch on the pump itself. It should turn on at this point and the hot water circulating pump should be bringing the needed hot water into your home.