Long waits at the far bathroom
The water heater is at one end of the house and the shower is at the other.
★ 4.8 Stars · 8,500+ Google Reviews · Calls answered 24/7
Hot Water Recirculation Pumps in Northern California
Standing at the sink with your hand under the faucet, waiting? Running the shower for a minute before you can get in? A recirculation system brings hot water to your taps faster, and Earl's Plumbing can add one to most homes without running new pipe.
Call or text (530) 343-0330 — a real person answers calls day or night.
Earl's Plumbing installs and repairs hot water recirculation systems throughout Northern California, from Shasta County to Placer County, family-owned since 1998.
We install retrofit pumps with under-sink crossover valves, dedicated return lines, and tankless recirculation, set up timer, on-demand, and smart controls, and repair existing pumps, with no service call fee.
Call or text (530) 343-0330.
No new pipe needed in most homes
$0 service call fee
Tank & tankless
Same-day when available
Financing (OAC)
CSLB #772565
Web-only offer
$25 OFF
Recirculation Pump Install or Repair
Mention this page when you call or text, or add "$25 web offer" when you book online.
📞 Claim by Phone 📅 Claim OnlineOffer ends this month. One per household.
Sound Familiar?
The farther a faucet is from the water heater, the longer the wait. That's where recirculation helps most.
Water down the drain
Gallons of clean water poured out every day just waiting for it to warm up.
Cold water at the kitchen sink
Rinsing dishes or washing hands in water that never quite gets warm.
Big or spread-out home
Single-story ranch homes and long pipe runs make the wait worse.
New tankless heater, same wait
Tankless heats on demand, but the water still has to travel to the tap.
Remodeling a bathroom
Walls are open, so it's the easiest time to add a dedicated return line.
Pump stopped working
Hot water used to come fast and now it doesn't. Often a setting or one part.
Warm water from the cold tap
A sign the crossover valve or control on an existing system needs attention.
Three Ways to Get Hot Water Faster
The right setup depends on your water heater, your pipes, and whether walls are open. We'll recommend one, and quote both when it's close.
🔁 Retrofit pump + crossover valve
- Pump at the water heater, small valve under the farthest sink
- Uses your cold line as the return, so no new pipe
- Usually no wall opening needed
- Cold tap at that sink may run lukewarm for a few seconds
🧩 Dedicated return line
- A separate pipe loops hot water back to the heater
- Cold water stays cold
- Best for new construction, remodels, and repipes
- Sometimes possible from an attic or crawlspace
⚡ Tankless recirculation
- Many tankless units have a built-in pump or can run one
- Works with a return line or a compatible crossover valve
- Set up to the manufacturer's instructions
- We check your model first. See tankless service
Hot Water When You Want It, Not All Day
A pump that runs nonstop keeps reheating water nobody's using. The control is what makes a recirculation system efficient.
Timer
Runs around your routine, like mornings and evenings.
Temperature sensing
Shuts the pump off once the water in the line is warm.
On-demand button or sensor
Press a button or walk in, and hot water is on its way.
Smart & app controls
Schedules and remote start from your phone on supported systems.
Source: ENERGY STAR notes that systems running continuously can use more energy than they save. California's energy code also requires recirculation pumps to be able to shut off when hot water isn't in use.
The Honest Fine Print on Recirculation
It's a great upgrade. Here's what to know so there are no surprises.
Faster, not always instant. How fast depends on the control and how far the pipe runs.
Retrofits share the cold line. A few seconds of lukewarm water from that sink's cold tap is normal.
The pump needs power. Usually an outlet near the water heater. We'll check before we start.
Settings matter. A pump left running all day wastes energy. We set the control to your routine.
It won't make water hotter. If water is never hot enough, the water heater needs a look first.
Not every pump fits every heater. Tank, tankless, and pipe layout decide which system works.
Already Have a Recirculation Pump? We Fix Those Too.
Many problems are a setting, a valve, or one part, not a whole new system.
Timer reset or set wrong
Power outages and time changes can throw off the schedule.
Pump not running
Failed motor, tripped power, or a control that isn't calling for it.
Humming or noisy pump
Worn bearings, a seized impeller, or air in the lines.
Cold tap runs warm
A crossover valve that's stuck open or a control running too long.
Stuck check valve
Water flowing the wrong way, or no circulation at all.
Leaks at the pump
Worn flanges, fittings, or a pump body that's past its life.
Why Homeowners Call Earl's for Recirculation
We match the system to your home, then set it up so it actually saves.
The right system
Retrofit, return line, or tankless, based on your home, not a sales pitch.
Water heater pros
We service tank and tankless heaters every day, so the whole system works together.
Set up to your routine
Controls programmed before we leave, and we show you how they work.
No service call fee
Free quote before any work. You decide, no pressure.
Same-day when available
Calls answered 24/7 from offices in Chico, Redding, and Yuba City.
100% satisfaction guarantee
If it's not right, we make it right. 28 years of local service behind that.
Stop Pouring Hot Water Money Down the Drain
Every morning in a lot of Northern California homes, somebody turns on the shower, walks away, and comes back a minute later hoping it's warm. All that clean water goes straight down the drain. Multiply that by every shower, every sink, every day.
Most homes don't need new pipe to fix it. A pump at the water heater and a small valve under the farthest sink does the job. If you're remodeling or have a tankless heater, there may be a better option, and we'll tell you honestly which one fits. Then we'll set the controls so it runs when you need it, not all day, and give you one price before we start.
— Clinton EarlOwner, Earl's Plumbing · Your Friend in the Business
28
Years serving Northern CA
8,500+
Google reviews
$0
Service call fee
24/7
Calls answered
Chico 4.8 ★ · 5,039 reviews
Redding 4.8 ★ · 2,527 reviews
Yuba City 4.8 ★ · 1,002 reviews
Call or Text Your Nearest Earl's Office
Three local offices covering eight Northern California counties. Every line takes calls and texts.
Redding
Redding · Anderson · Cottonwood · Shasta Lake · Palo Cedro · Red Bluff · Corning
(530) 244-3275
Schedule Recirculation Pump Service — Free Quote
Book in about a minute. Tell us if you have a tank or tankless water heater. Add "$25 web offer" in the notes.
1Pick your service
2Choose a time that works
3Get a confirmation — done
Rather talk to a person? Call or text (530) 343-0330 — we answer 24/7.
Not sure which system fits your home? Call and we'll help you decide: (530) 343-0330.
Hot Water Recirculation Questions, Answered
How it works, retrofits, tankless, controls, and repairs. Straight answers here.
How does a hot water recirculation pump work?
A recirculation pump moves the water that has cooled off in your hot water pipes back to the water heater instead of sending it down the drain while you wait. Hot water reaches the faucet or shower much faster. The pump is controlled by a timer, a temperature sensor, an on-demand button, or a smart control so it only runs when needed.
Can I add a recirculation pump without a return line?
Yes. Most existing homes get a retrofit system: a pump at the water heater and a crossover valve under the sink farthest from it. The valve uses the cold water line as the return path, so no new pipe is needed. The tradeoff is that the cold tap at that sink may run lukewarm for a few seconds.
Why is my cold water warm after installing a recirculation pump?
On retrofit systems the cold line carries water back to the heater, so a little warm water can sit in it. A short burst of lukewarm water is normal. If the cold tap stays warm, the crossover valve may be failing, the control may be set to run too long, or a check valve may be stuck. A plumber can adjust or replace the part.
Does a recirculation pump save money?
It saves the water you would otherwise run down the drain while waiting, and it saves time. ENERGY STAR notes that systems running continuously can use more energy than they save, because of pump power and heat lost from the pipes. Timer, temperature, and on-demand controls keep the pump from running when no one needs hot water.
Will a recirculation pump work with a tankless water heater?
Often, yes. Many tankless water heaters have a built-in recirculation pump or can control an external one, and some work with a crossover valve. The setup has to match the manufacturer's instructions, or the heater may short-cycle or the warranty may be affected. We check your model before recommending an option.
Why is my recirculation pump not working?
Common causes include a timer that reset after a power outage, an unplugged or failed pump, a stuck check valve, a failed crossover valve, air in the lines, or a control set wrong. A humming or noisy pump can mean a worn motor or a seized impeller. Many problems are a setting or one part, not a whole new system.
Do recirculation pumps need electricity?
Yes. The pump needs power, usually from an outlet near the water heater. Some on-demand systems also need power where the pump or control is installed, such as under a sink. Before installation we look at where outlets are and tell you if anything extra is needed for your setup.
How much does a hot water recirculation pump cost?
It depends on the system. A retrofit pump with a crossover valve is a much smaller job than running a new return line, and tankless setups vary by model. We come out, look at your water heater and plumbing, and give you one upfront price. There's no service call fee, and online customers get $25 off.