CircuitSolver® Union Cold Water Balancing Valves For Cold Water Recirculation Systems

Dynamically & automatically balance cold water recirculation systems using the CircuitSolver® Union Cold Water (CSU-CW) thermostatic balancing valve.

Legionella in Non-Recirculated Cold Water Systems

Stagnant, warm water in a plumbing system increases the risk of Legionella bacteria growth. In cold water systems, adequate flow through high fixture usage and low water temperatures discourage the growth of Legionella and other biofilms. However, if flow throughout or part of the system is insufficient, standing water can drastically increase the likelihood of bacteria colonization.

When cold water flow is minimal or stopped altogether, as seen during recent COVID-19 lockdowns that left buildings unoccupied for long periods, disinfectant levels evaporate, and temperatures gradually rise to Legionella’s growth range (77–113°F, 25–42°C), leading to bacteria colonization and uneven free chlorine distribution throughout the system.

To address Legionella mitigation in cold water systems, organizations such as the VHA have begun taking a more proactive approach to planning for “periods of low flow or non-use” by implementing cold water recirculation systems.

Why Cold Water Recirculation?

• It keeps cold water moving and maintains water quality to reduce the impact of stagnation
• Ensures “residual chlorine” is distributed throughout the cold water system
• Keeps water temperature in branches and risers below 68°F
• VHA 1061 Directive 

Need For Dynamic Balancing

Cold water systems must be recirculated and properly balanced to establish continuous flow and keep line temperatures below 68°F (20°C) - the point at which Legionella begins to colonize.

Many variables impact the balance of a domestic water system:

• Changes in building occupancy; closing off floors
• Building expansion after initial construction
• Reduction in building utilization overall
• Actual construction is different than design (material, pipe installs/runs, installation)

In order to achieve stability, system balancing must be dynamic - continually addressing the ever-changing conditions. Thermostatic balancing valves adjust dynamically providing the best opportunity for sustainability and Legionella mitigation. Traditional manual balancing valves could provide a solution to cold water balancing, but their static operation inherently does not factor in nor adapt to the realities of everyday system operation & changes, which may render the balancing obsolete over time.

CircuitSolver® Union Cold Water (CSU-CW) Balancing Valve

A CircuitSolver® Union Cold Water thermostatic valve is installed at the end of each branch or riser to balance a cold water recirculation system. The valve automatically monitors and modulates flow based on current water temperatures to maintain a set temperature in the system to mitigate Legionella growth.

The CircuitSolver® Union Cold Water balancing valve uses the same reliable and precise thermal actuator technology as the traditional CircuitSolver® for hot water balancing. Designed with ease in mind, the CSU-CW is offered in sizes ranging from 1/2” to 1” and is available in a range of configurations to suit individual system needs.

Thermostatic Balancing – Install it and Forget it!

To conquer the challenges inherent to traditional manual balancing methods, ThermOmegaTech^® invented CircuitSolver^®, the market's first thermostatic balancing valve. CircuitSolver^® automatically balances a Domestic Hot Water System (DHWS) by modulating flow to maintain a set water temperature at the end of each supply branch or riser, eliminating the need for manual balancing while ensuring instant hot water delivery to each fixture.

When balancing a DHWS, the goal is to ensure hot water is consistently available at every fixture throughout a building on-demand. This can be difficult with manual balancing methods, which can deplete time, money, and labor resources.

Multiple contractors must manually balance one valve at a time, often revisiting the same valve several times to adjust for inadequate flow or temperature throughout the system. The manual balancing process is both laborious and time-consuming. Ultimately, it may still result in future callbacks as system demands evolve because they cannot react to dynamic changes in the DHWS. 

In comparison, CircuitSolver® valves uses our patented Thermoloid® blended paraffin wax actuators, continuously monitor the water temperature and automatically adjust the flow as conditions change to send hot water where it is needed to accommodate demand variations.

Installed in-line at the end of each branch or riser before the return, CircuitSolver^® valves modulate open and closed* in response to temperature variations to control water flow to the return.

When the water temperature falls below the valve's set-point, the CircuitSolver^® modulates open to allow more water to flow. As the water approaches the valve's set-point temperature again, the CircuitSolver^® automatically modulates towards its closed* position.

*Note: The valve will never fully close, always allowing a small amount of bypass of flow to the return to avoid dead-heading the recirculation pump during low usage.

During the initial start-up of a domestic hot water recirculation system, the valve is wide open and will gradually close once the system temperature requirements are met. The valve remains in its closed position to keep hot water in the line, opening as needed when the water temperature drops below the valve's set-point. This allows a system to be initially balanced in hours, not days, and to stay balanced even as conditions change. 

The accuracy and precision of CircuitSolver^® position it lightyears ahead of manual balancing options by eliminating the struggles of balancing and rebalancing a domestic hot water system

See the Savings!

We surveyed plumbing contractors nationwide on domestic hot water system balancing costs and determined that CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valves generate significant cost savings by eliminating manual balancing labor.

The survey collected data on total costs associated with balancing a system, including labor time, employee salaries, required contractors per job, frequency of callbacks, and materials used. Below are the findings on the average cost of balancing the DHWS of a 10-story building.

CIRCUITSOLVER® BALANCING SAVINGS

Manual Balancing Valves: 10 valves x $70 each = $700
Labor: Contractors x 12 hours x $65/hour = $1,560
Total Cost = $2,260

When directly compared to this system, the implementation of CircuitSolver® valves would result in 44% SAVINGS due to the elimination of manual balancing labor.

In addition, 58% of survey respondents indicated that they had received callbacks to rebalance a MANUAL system. Therefore, it can be extrapolated from this data that installations utilizing CircuitSolver® valves would result in even more significant cost savings over time.

Maximize Savings with the CircuitSolver® Union

The CircuitSolver® Union (CSU) can provide even deeper savings. This compact solution adds a union with an integrated O-ring face seal for a leak-free connection and an optional integrated check valve to the standard balancing valve. These additions reduce the number of components that need to be installed and minimize leak points. 

You can SAVE $65-80 on additional materials and labor costs PER VALVE. 

No matter how complex the design, CircuitSolver^® is the perfect fit, offering a variety of sizes from ½" to 2" with a diverse selection of configurations, including ball valves, integrated unions, integrated check valves, strainers, thermometers, and ProPress or ProPex ends. CircuitSolver^® is made to satisfy any design with even the most unique specifications; therefore, if an off-the-shelf option does not work for your system design, contact our team to discuss a custom solution.

See how CircuitSolver® from ThermOmegaTech® can help you save money on your upcoming projects by visiting Booth #307!