On May 18, 12:24*pm, keith > wrote:
> On May 18, 10:30*am, "Bob F" > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Bob F wrote:
> > > Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > >>> ...and that water in the return line never gets hot? ...or it never
> > >>> cools off? You're FOS
>
> > >> Well, look at it this way:
>
> > >> The water in the return line is probably close to room temperature.
> > >> He only
> > >> has to heat it from room temperature to his target temperature. *If
> > >> he was pulling in cold water from underground, his heater would have
> > >> a lot more work to do. *Yes, there are losses when he's done using
> > >> hot water, but probably not as great as the usage from heating up
> > >> all of that
> > >> 40 F water.
>
> > > Very good point. I hadn't even thought of that aspect. It probably
> > > doubles the savings I get.
>
> > > It is nice to see others here that can really think.
>
> > I guess we can always add that during the heating season, those losses heat the
> > house, cutting down furnace usage. Since I don't have A/C, no losses there.
>
> You're losing the heat and heating the house.

I don't think Bob F ever said what his setup is like, but if his
plumbing runs
through the basement, the heating is negligible in practical terms.
Yes,
from a purely physics standpoint it's there, but it's like cooking a
pot of
soup with a candle.

Cindy Hamilton