Best Hot Water Recirculating Pump: Top 7

We all know how impatient we can be when we turn on water for a nice hot shower and have to wait for what seems like an eternity sometimes, just to get the hot water flowing from the shower head — especially on freezing cold mornings. You can avoid this wasted water and save yourself a little time in the process by getting a hot water recirculating pump. These pumps are useful for preventing all of that wasted water that comes from waiting for hot water to start flowing from the tap, saving time, and some have said that they save can you money. While we haven’t tested the money-saving aspect, we do have a list of the best hot water recirculating pumps for you to check out.

Hot water recirculating pumps have other uses besides helping you get hot water a couple of minutes faster. Many of these pumps are suitable for applications such as solar water heaters, a/c systems, boilers, and other residential and industrial uses.

7 Best Hot Water Recirculating Pumps

We’ll list the top pumps for you right up front here and then go further into the details on each one so you can see what makes these the best.

Installing one of these recirculating pumps is a pretty affordable and easy way to give you some real benefits like convenience, time savings (albeit a little at a time), and just making one aspect of daily life just work a little bit better for you and your family.

Water Advisor Top Pick:

Taco 006-B4 Bronze Circulator Pump 3/4-Inch Sweat

[amazon box=”B003EUXAX2″ ]

This Taco pump is recommended for domestic hot water recirculation as well as hydronic heating, hydro/air heating and cooling, and other uses.

This unit has a cartridge design so that all moving parts are contained and you can replace the cartridge rather than having to replace the entire pump. It will get pretty warm to the touch when running but it is designed to do so and is not something you need to be concerned about.

Liquid temperature range 40℉ – 220℉

This Taco pump is rated as suitable for potable water.

Why is the Taco 006-B4 Our Top Pick for Hot Water Recirculating Pumps?

We chose this one as our Top Pick because of a few key facts. First, it’s rated for potable water so that makes it a more versatile piece of equipment. It’s the highest-rated pump, with 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon with 47 ratings as of this writing. The cartridge design makes it easier if you have to replace it — you don’t have to replace the entire unit. Finally, this brand is used by more pros than any other based on research from the home improvement and licensed contractor sources we interviewed.

BOKYWOX 120W 110-120V Food Grade Automatic Circulator Booster Pump NPT3/4” Stainless Steel Domestic Hot Water Circulation Pump （RS15/9SR）

[amazon box=”B072J4DG7M” ]

This pump is notable for its very quiet operation as well as being totally leak-free. One customer notes that this pump has saved 10 dollars per month in water costs because of not having to wait so long for hot water. So, just adding that anecdotal evidence into the debate as to whether these recirculating pumps save you money.

Liquid temperature range 0℉ – 212℉

This BOKYWOX pump is suitable for potable water. Please note: the manufacturer says that the taste of lubricating oil will go away after a few uses.

Grundfos 59896341 Super Brute Circulator UPS15-58FC

[amazon box=”B000JGH2F6″ ]

This pump has a cast iron housing and a three-speed motor. There’s a built-in check valve that can be removed. It operates in near silence due to its wet rotor design. This pump can be use for hot water recirculation, heating systems, hot tub heaters, outdoor wood burners, and other applications.

One nice thing about this pump is that you won’t need to oil it.

Liquid temperature range 35.6 °F – 230 °F

This Grundfos pump is not suitable for potable water.

KOLERFLO 110V Water Recirculation Pump 120W Automatic Circulation Pump/Circulator Pump for Water Heater System

[amazon box=”B07D54NQ4C” ]

Virtually noiseless operation and no leaks. Cast iron housing for durability, built-in flow switch, and easy installation. Due to its having iron components instead of bronze, this unit can’t be used for drinking water systems.

Liquid temperature range: 0 ℉ – +212 ℉

This Kolerflo pump is not suitable for potable water.

Trupow 120W 3/4″ NPT 110V Hot Water Automatic Circulation Pump Cast Iron Circulator Pump

[amazon box=”B078S3CLX1″ ]

Here’s another very quiet pump with durable cast iron construction, easy install, and zero leakage. Like the others, this pump is good for multiple uses including recirculating hot water in your home.

Liquid temperature range: 0℉ -+212℉

This Trupow pump is not suitable for potable water.

KOLERFLO 110V Circulating Water Pump Hot Water Circulation Pump/Circulator Pump for Hot Water System

[amazon box=”B07D53C4F6″ ]

This pump is good for various applications including hot water recirculating in homes, as well as for solar water heating systems, tankless water heaters, boilers, a/c systems, hot tubs, and certain industrial applications. Since the focus here is on recirculating hot water for your home, we’ve chosen it here for its performance in that capacity. If you want instant hot water ready for you throughout your home, this is a great choice.

Liquid temperature range: 0 ℉ – +212 ℉

This Kolerflo pump is not suitable for potable water.

Grundfos 59896155 SuperBrute Recirculator Pump Small Red

[amazon box=”B00128FO2I” ]

The Grundfos has a cast iron pump housing, and the wet rotor system means it operates extremely quietly. These pumps can be used in a/c and heating systems. Full disclosure, even though reviews are very good for the most part, some users complained that this pump became rusty in just a matter of days and introduced rust into their water.

Liquid temperature range: 36 ℉ – 230 ℉

This Grundfos pump is not suitable for potable water.