Comments on: Heat-recovery tech for drains hits Home Depot

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:09:21 +0000

Powerpipe sounds like a great product, just one BIG problem!! I Heard some pretty shady things about powerpipes UL certification and that the UL certification is not related potable water (dangerous? Misleading?). Redflag deals is where I think I read that. A forum member posted a UL officials e-mail stating that they should contact the company who manufactures the powerpipe in regards to claiming that it is certified for use with potable water.

By: Chillers

Chillers — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:54:20 +0000

I also would be very curious to see the corrosion profile in five years.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:30:00 +0000

Correction. The Power-Pipe is a passive device that requires no pump and no maintenance for home applications. It does recover up to 40% of hot water associated costs. The technology is called “falling film heat exchanger”: as drain water flows down the drain, it clings to the inner wall, forming a thin film that allows effective heat transfer through the copper walls.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:53:00 +0000

Ever feel the water going down the drain from a shower? It’s essentially as cold as the tub by the time it hits the drain.

Either you are having very cold showers or you have a cryogenic bathtub.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:04:00 +0000

I don’t think that a pump is required or even offered at all, the municipal water pressure drives the system…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:26:00 +0000

unlikely to give a return in 5 years:

-subtract off electricity costs for running the pumps

-maintenance capex for maintaining pump

-amortize capital costs including copper tubing

Not to mention the fact that the actual temperature differential will drive very little heat transfer. Ever feel the water going down the drain from a shower? It’s essentially as cold as the tub by the time it hits the drain.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 03:06:00 +0000

simple vacuum heat pipe can do the same for less cost and far less copper piping!

but congrats to them for getting picked up by the ‘depot’.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:15:00 +0000

It’s hot water in a copper pipe. It will last indefinitely.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:33:00 +0000

I would be very curious to see the corrosion profile in five years.