This is a pretty cool bit of technology that I came upon a while back. The system is called Re-Therm and it is a wonderful way to re-use all that heat that is going down the drain every time you do laundry, take a shower or wash dishes. Something you wouldn’t really think of as lost potential energy. In fact, most of us don’t give it a second thought.

How it works is very simple:

As warm/hot drain water flows down the vertical heat exchanger it clings to the surface of the inner section forming a very thin film of water. This thin water film allows for ultra-high heat transfer. Heat that was normally wasted now instead is rapidly absorbed by cold water flowing through the outer section.

The preheated freshwater exiting the heat exchanger then proceeds to the conventional water heater. This preheating of the water before it enters the water heater substantially reduces the energy/fuel used by any water heating system. Re-Therm focuses on the many benefits of this system, with just a few of them being that it recovers up to 30% of the heat that would have previously just gone down the drain, it requires no power to operate and will last 40 years or more. You can get more information on this product at the Re-Therm website by clicking this link.

This is a very simple to install technology and I will definitely be considering it for my home since with a plumbing system that is over 60 years old, I will be re-working things soon anyway. If I were building a new home it would absolutely become part of my plans.

Source: ReTherm