How long do you wait for hot water when you turn on the faucet? Thirty seconds, a minute, two? Every second, water that was heated earlier has cooled in the pipes and runs straight down the drain. AquaMotion estimates that a home with five taps can waste up to 15,000 gallons a year this way, and ACT D’Mand puts that figure at 15 to 20 thousand. You pay for that water, the energy that heated it, and the sewer fees on the way out.
A hot water recirculation system fixes the wait by moving the cooled water out of the hot line before you need it, so hot water arrives at the fixture in seconds. Two brands lead our lineup: AquaMotion and ACT D’Mand Kontrols.
How Does Hot Water Recirculation Work?
A small circulator pump moves the cooled water sitting in the hot water line somewhere useful instead of down the drain. Where that water goes, and what tells the pump to run, depends on three things.
- Do you have a dedicated return line?
Some homes have a third pipe that loops from the farthest fixture back to the water heater. A pump at the heater pushes the cooled water through that loop and back to be reheated. Most homes do not have a return line. In those single pipe homes, a bypass valve under the farthest sink lets the pump push the cooled water from the hot line into the cold line, then closes once hot water arrives. - Tank or tankless water heater?
A tankless heater only fires when enough water flows through it, and many need more flow than a small recirculation pump provides. That is why recirculation kits are built specifically for tank or tankless heaters, and why tankless kits use higher output circulators. - How should the pump be activated?
- Timer: The pump runs during set hours, such as mornings and evenings, with a temperature sensor (aquastat) cycling it on and off.
- On Demand: The pump runs only when someone presses a button, walks past a motion sensor, or taps an app, then shuts off once hot water arrives. On demand systems use the least energy and help meet codes such as California Title 24.
Aquamotion Recirculation Kits
AquaMotion offers a complete kit for nearly every home: tank or tankless, with or without a return line, indoors or out. Its systems work with a built-in timer and aquastat, or as on demand (On Call) systems activated by a wireless button, motion sensor, wall switch, or Wi-Fi smart plug. Most timer kits can be ordered as an on demand version by adding “N” to the part number, such as the AMH3K-7N.
- Patented Green Eco Cartridge: The circulator’s moving parts live in a single cartridge that can be removed, flushed with water, and reinstalled in the field, instead of replacing the whole pump.
- Lead Free and Listed: NSF/ANSI 372 approved for potable water, with UL listed outdoor models.
- Water Savings: AquaMotion estimates savings of 12,000 to 15,000 gallons of water a year in a home with 4 to 5 taps, with a typical payback of one to three years.
Which AquaMotion Kit do you Need?
AquaMotion’s selection comes down to three questions: Do you have a dedicated return line? Do you have a tank or tankless water heater? And is there room and power under your sink? Follow the charts below to find your model.
AMH2K-R Dedicated Return Line Tankless System
For homes with a return line and a tankless heater or large tank.
- Installation: The pump installs into the return line near the water heater.
- Included: Stainless high speed circulator with aquastat and timer, 3/4 inch FNPT flanges, and a 10 ft line cord.
- Coverage: Up to 600 ft of total pipe length.
- Codes: Meets California Title 24.
Available as the on demand AMH2K-RN
AMH2K-R Product Page | AMH2K-R Specs
AMH3K-7 Under Sink System for Tank Heaters
The complete kit installs under the sink with no pipe cutting, in about 15 minutes.
- Requires: An electrical outlet under the sink.
- Included: Stainless union pump with legs, 10 ft line cord, built-in timer with 48 tabs of 15 minute run time, aquastat switch, fittings, check valves, hoses, and tees.
- Operation: The pump starts when the water cools to 85°F and stops at 104°F, running about three times an hour for 2 minutes during timer hours.
- Coverage: Up to 250 ft of total pipe length in single pipe homes with a tank heater.
- Codes: Meets California Title 24.
Available as the on demand AMH3K-7N.
AMH3K-7 Product Page | AMH3K-7 Specs
ACT D’Mand Kontrols
ACT D’Mand is built entirely around on demand activation. The pump runs only when you tell it to, and its integrated temperature sensor shuts it down as soon as hot water reaches the pump. It then stays dormant until the water cools and someone calls for it again. ACT D’Mand points out that timer and aquastat systems spend energy keeping pipes hot when no one is home, and estimates that a D’Mand system pays for itself within 2 to 3 years.
- One System, Any Heater: The same model works with tank and tankless water heaters and heat pump water heaters, in new construction, retrofits, and small commercial jobs.
- Loop or Under Sink: Install the pump at the water heater on a loop or dedicated return line, or under the farthest fixture in homes without a return line (requires power under the sink, with the optional Under Sink Mounting Kit).
- Activation Options: Hardwired LED buttons and rocker switches, hardwired and wireless motion sensors, Bluetooth wireless transmitters and repeaters, and a free smartphone app.
- Warranty: 5 years on all systems and 1 year on accessories.
ACT2 Hot Water Recirculation Pump
The compact choice for homes under 4,000 sq ft with pipe runs under 200 linear feet (100 feet for the PF kit).
- Performance: 0 to 15 GPM and 0 to 24 ft of head, from a 2-pole, 0.17 HP motor drawing 125 watts at 115V.
- Included: Control box with power cord and activation wires, ACT1 pump, integrated Bluetooth activation, integrated check valve and temperature sensor, two stainless steel unions, and a hardwired LED button. The ACT2-BTKIT adds two Bluetooth wireless transmitters.
- Ratings: 145 PSI maximum working pressure, fluid temperatures from 36°F to 150°F, 1 inch BSP union x 3/4 inch MIP connections.

ACT2 Product Page | ACT2 Specs
SS3-200-2 Hot Water Recirculation Pumps
For homes over 4,000 sq ft, or pipe runs over 200 linear feet with tankless heaters (100 feet for the PFS kit), the SS3-200-2 steps up to a higher output pump.
- Performance: 0 to 33 GPM and 0 to 29 ft of head, from a 2-pole, 0.262 HP motor drawing 197 watts at 115V.
- Included: Control box with power cord and activation wires, SS3-200 pump, integrated Bluetooth activation, integrated check valve, two flanges with bolts and nuts, a hardwired activation button , and an anchor pack. An optional programmable digital controller is available for systems without return lines.
- SS3-200-2-PFS Kit: Adds an integrated temperature sensor, two stainless steel tees, two 3/4 inch x 18 inch flex lines, and a large mounting bracket for faster installation.
- Ratings: 145 PSI maximum working pressure, fluid temperatures from 36°F to 230°F, GF 15/26 flange connections with 3/4 inch stainless steel MIP flanges.
SS3-200-2 Product Page | SS3-200-2 Specs | SS3-200-2-PFS Specs
Buttons and Wireless Accessories
Place an activation button or motion sensor in each bathroom and the kitchen so hot water is on its way before you reach the faucet. Choose from the hardwired LED button (HWB-LED-S), hardwired rocker switch (HWRS-LED), hardwired motion sensor (HWMSRB-PW), Bluetooth wireless motion sensor (WMSRB-BT), Bluetooth wireless transmitter (WT-BT), and a Bluetooth receiver for smartphone control (REC-BT).
Hot Water in Seconds
Whether you prefer the call-when-you-need-it simplicity of ACT D’MAND or a kit matched exactly to your plumbing from AquaMotion, hot water recirculation ends the wait at the faucet and stops thousands of gallons from going down the drain each year. Use AquaMotion’s flow charts or ACT D’Mand’s sizing by home size and pipe length to find your system, and explore our complete line of instant hot water products at HVACquick.com.
Your dependable Partner for High-Performance products
Our engineering team is just a quick phone call away to provide expert guidance and ensure you have the right specialized gear for every job. Plus competitive contractor pricing, deep stocking and quick shipping from our East and West warehouses.
Join our TradePro program for below-MAP tier pricing, direct-dial engineering support and priority shipping.






























































































