Capture the heat from your wastewater before it goes down the drain. It could save you money on your hot water bill.
Newer houses, built after 2017, will have a drain water heat recovery system installed because it was mandatory under the 2017 Ontario Building Code. It’s part of an overall energy saving strategy. Homeowners with older homes can add it if they choose.
The technology uses a copper pipe to capture the heat from wastewater as it goes down the drain. The captured heat from the drain water is transferred through a copper coil in the Thermodrain to incoming cold water on its way to the hot water tank. The system preheats the water as it goes into the tank. A series of check valves prevent the wastewater from mixing with the incoming fresh cold water.
The Thermodrain is a large pipe, three inches in diameter and two-to-three feet long. It is installed vertically into the drain pipe. A smaller ½ inch pipe is used to move the warmed water from the copper coil to the water heater.
The Thermodrain is primarily used to capture heat from shower and bathtub tub drain water. The idea is it helps to save on energy costs by preheating the water before it goes into the tank.
It is one of many ways to save energy, water, and money with your plumbing.
Plumbing fixtures such as a dishwasher or washing machine can save both energy and water. An ENERGY STAR® certified dishwasher uses 12% less energy and 30% less water on average, than a standard model, according to the government of Canada’s natural resources site. An ENERGY STAR® certified washing machine uses 25% less energy, on average than a standard model, and 33% less water.
While hot water tanks don’t save water, they can save on the cost to heat the water, depending on the type and amount used. Water heaters account for 17.2% of the energy used in the average Canadian home. Look for models that are certified ENERGY STAR®.
The site maintains a searchable product list to compare and find the most energy-efficient models to suit your needs. It extends well-beyond plumbing appliances to include all kinds of products.
There are other non-tech ways to recover water and save money such as redirecting water from your roof and eavestrough to a rain barrel. It can provide a steady source of water for outdoor gardening without using municipal water or well water and it won’t show up on your water bill.
Rather than let the water run down the shower drain as it warms up to temp, capture it in a bucket and use it to water plants. Smaller watering cans can be filled in a sink as the water heats up for the dishwasher or hand-washing antique china, crystal, or silver which may not be suitable for automatic dishwashers.
Leftover cooking water from pasta or steaming vegetables can be used to water plants as well as any water from rinsing or washing vegetables and lettuce.
Call Plumbtech Plumbing for all your installation needs, for more information, and for a free estimate. Call 705-722-7209.
