Hot water circulator installation

**Gene South** · 03-29-2016, 11:34 AM

Saw this yesterday. I flagged it to have the plumber review the installation. From what I can determine on the manufacture's website, it is not installed properly. Notice the vertically oriented motor.

IMG_2620.jpg FINAL TC.jpg

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**Jerry Peck** · 03-29-2016, 11:53 AM

What did the instruction sheet you were holding say about its installation?

All of those circulating pumps I've seen specify that the pump shaft must be horizontal, and give big warnings about the requirements.

**Gene South** · 03-29-2016, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

What did the instruction sheet you were holding say about its installation?

All of those circulating pumps I've seen specify that the pump shaft must be horizontal, and give big warnings about the requirements.

I did not read the installation sheet while in the attic. I didn't notice the vertical shaft at the time of inspection. I was focused on some lose wiring on the circulator and overlooked the vertical shaft. The photo shows me taking a photo of the name of the model and only later when looking at the photo and while writing the report and researching the model did I realize the manufacture states it must be horizontal. So I never read the sheet, just went to the manufacture's website to get the info. But the website was pretty clear about it being horizontal.

**Jerry Peck** · 03-29-2016, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Gene South

I did not read the installation sheet while in the attic. I didn't notice the vertical shaft at the time of inspection. I was focused on some lose wiring on the circulator and overlooked the vertical shaft. The photo shows me taking a photo of the name of the model and only later when looking at the photo and while writing the report and researching the model did I realize the manufacture states it must be horizontal. So I never read the sheet, just went to the manufacture's website to get the info. But the website was pretty clear about it being horizontal.

As has been said - an inspector can never take too many photos ...

That gave you a chance to review the photo and catch the orientation of the shaft.

Reference the installation instructions you found on the internet based on manufacturer and model, include a screen capture of the installation instruction requirement stating the orientation of the shaft (stops arguments before the argument even starts because you provided it right there in the report).

**Gene South** · 03-29-2016, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

As has been said - an inspector can never take too many photos ...

That gave you a chance to review the photo and catch the orientation of the shaft.

Reference the installation instructions you found on the internet based on manufacturer and model, include a screen capture of the installation instruction requirement stating the orientation of the shaft (stops arguments before the argument even starts because you provided it right there in the report).

You're right about the photos. I take an extensive amount of photos. A lot of them are just to document what I am doing and seeing, and what the conditions of the inspection are, not necessarily tasking photos just of the problems. The photos can really come in handy later for a whole variety of reasons, as you stated.

**Bill Bryan** · 03-29-2016, 03:42 PM

Gene, you don't put all your photos in the report?

**Gene South** · 03-29-2016, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by Bill Bryan

Gene, you don't put all your photos in the report?

No, I take more photos than are necessary for the report. I take lots of "documentation" photos from different angles, etc in case I have to go back and review something later. That is just my method. I don't take a lot of handwritten notes. I use the camera as a note pad. My inspections are very extensive and I have a lot of satisfied clients as a result.

**Bill Bryan** · 03-29-2016, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Gene South

No, I take more photos than are necessary for the report. I take lots of "documentation" photos from different angles, etc in case I have to go back and review something later. That is just my method. I don't take a lot of handwritten notes. I use the camera as a note pad. My inspections are very extensive and I have a lot of satisfied clients as a result.

I'm with you. I don't take enough photos. I am working on taking more. Sometimes I get home and wish I had taken a photo of something I saw early in the inspection.

**Gene South** · 03-29-2016, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Bill Bryan

I'm with you. I don't take enough photos. I am working on taking more. Sometimes I get home and wish I had taken a photo of something I saw early in the inspection.

The camera is your friend. Depend on it.

**Dave Belisle** · 03-31-2016, 01:45 AM

I have installed Hundreds of circulators over the years and all say keep the pump motor horizontal .
But in a tour of the Taco factory in RI . We had a class after the tour and the Taco tech said if you find a pump in the vertical position , and as long as the system pressure is over 20 pounds,
it won’t hurt the water lubricated pump.

**Gene South** · 03-31-2016, 03:52 AM

Interesting. I know what you mean. I have seen other products where their technical publications say one thing and then when you talk to someone at the factory they say different. The TACO publication says only in specific hi PSI applications should it be vertical, but I understand what you are saying.

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Interesting. I know what you mean. I have seen other products where their technical publications say one thing and then when you talk to someone at the factory they say different. The TACO publication says only in specific hi PSI applications should it be vertical, but I understand what you are saying.

**Phil brody** · 04-01-2016, 05:28 AM

Interesting part is since it's plumbed in PEX it can easily be rotated 90 degrees in under 10 seconds.

Originally Posted by Gene South

Interesting. I know what you mean. I have seen other products where their technical publications say one thing and then when you talk to someone at the factory they say different. The TACO publication says only in specific hi PSI applications should it be vertical, but I understand what you are saying.

- - - Updated - - -

Interesting. I know what you mean. I have seen other products where their technical publications say one thing and then when you talk to someone at the factory they say different. The TACO publication says only in specific hi PSI applications should it be vertical, but I understand what you are saying.