With over 36 years’ experience in the industry, Q-Max Pumping Systems are invariably fielding questions about various aspects of pumping from clients… and we are always happy to provide the answer.

In winter, the topic increasingly centres around domestic hot water – (DHW) – circulation systems, with DHW being the hot water supplied to outlets in kitchen, bathrooms and laundries, etc. The purpose of a DHW circulation system is to minimise the time spent waiting for hot water from any outlet in the system. An inefficient system wastes time, water and energy – and money.

With that in mind, we would like to put forward the Top 7 most popular FAQs put to us by managers, body corporates and maintenance officers about these systems.

Q. What is the biggest mistake you can make when installing a domestic hot water circulation system?

A. Selecting the wrong pump. Choosing a pump that is too small won’t be adequate for your needs, and will lead to cold sections within your building. Similarly, opting for a unit that is too large will result in high water velocity in pipework, this can cause major damage to your system. It is also wasting energy due to increased heat losses from the circulation system and so costing you money.

Q. How can I be sure I have the right sized system?

A. Simply tell Q-Max your needs and we will custom design and supply a system that will match your present and future requirements.

Q. What size systems does Q-Max have?

A. We have one of the widest ranges of pumps on the market ranging from small single pump systems with a flow rate as low as 0.1l/s right up to very large systems.

Q. Are your pumps energy efficient?

A. Yes, energy conservation is one of our most important design criteria. Our dual hot water circulator systems are extremely energy efficient and are capable of economically supplying constant hot water throughout large buildings.

Q. Would you recommend variable speed control?

A. Absolutely. In fact on large hot water circulation systems, we believe they should be mandatory. Our large systems can be controlled by a thermocouple (optional) to ensure an even flow rate, just enough to maintain the set temperature on the return line.

Q. What other features do your pumps DHW circulation systems have?

A. We have incorporated a suite of features to optimise their operation, including:

• Time clock,
• Thermal overloads for pump motors,
• Balanced pump run timer,
• Provision for thermostat control and
• Automatic change over on fault.

Options include

• BMS output,
• External run output and
• VSD control.

Q. Does Q-Max offer service, support and repairs?

A. Yes. We have found that regular servicing makes our pumps more reliable and cost-effective and increases product life. We offer technical support and advice and conduct maintenance scheduling.

For more details about our hot water circulation systems, please contact one of our team members today.