CircuitSolver® is a brand of ThermOmegaTech®, a leader in designing and manufacturing self-actuating thermostatic temperature control technology. Over the last 40 years, we have successfully implemented our thermal actuator technology to precisely monitor and control fluid based on temperature in dozens of applications. In 2012, we expanded into the plumbing industry with CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valves for domestic hot water recirculation.
CircuitSolver®
ThermOmegaTech® is excited to celebrate overten years of active use in the plumbing and construction industry and looking forward to what will come in the next decade!
Featuring CircuitSolver® principals, representatives, a plumbing contractor, and a design engineer, this new video speaks to the effect CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valves have had on the industry by making manual balancing a thing of the past.
Changing the Plumbing Game
CircuitSolver® thermostatic valves’ precision and accuracy eliminate the struggles of balancing and rebalancing. For years, contractors and engineers have witnessed the ease of using CircuitSolver® in their projects, and they share their experiences in this exciting new CircuitSolver® video!
“Someone had recommended us [for a job], and I said this is the perfect job for CircuitSolver®,” said Ron Miller, President/ Master of Adelphia Plumbing in Pennsylvania. “We removed the old standard balancing valves and installed CircuitSolver® valves for half the price of the other job. The system worked perfectly after that.”
“We use CircuitSolver® in all of our projects that require recirculating hot water…it is a much more energy efficient way to design a hot water recirculation system,” states Jim Tyler at EAPC Architects Engineers.
All CircuitSolver® thermostatic valves are designed and assembled at our manufacturing facility in Warminster, PA, and comply with the “Buy American Act.”
CircuitSolver® revolutionized the commercial plumbing industry by automatically balancing domestic hot water systems, eliminating the need for costly and time-intensive manual balancing.
A three-story pharmaceutical laboratory in La Jolla, California, underwent a complete remodel in 2017. The rooftop HVAC unit was replaced, and humidification was required, which presented the need to cool the drainage water.
“The roof was constructed oddly. Due to where the drain had to terminate, we had minimal fall to work with,” said Ed Parisi, Plumbing Design Manager at ICS (Industrial Commercial Systems), the contractor on this project.
“I had to get on the roof of the building to see what conditions we had to deal with. It was tough logistically to get the slope from the unit to the receptor; we had about eighty feet to travel.” Parisi needed an eighth of an inch per lineal foot to complete the drainage and had about nine and a half inches of fall available.
“We had been using typical devices for cooling humidifier drain water. Some had a tank or odd configurations, but none would fit correctly.” Parisi notes. He needed a better solution.
Parisi was previously introduced to the CircuitSolver product line by Chrissy Hamm of Specification Sales in Southern California. When Parisi was investigating other drainage devices, she suggested the DTV (Drain Tempering Valve). This was Parisi‘s first time using a DTV from ThermOmegaTech. “I didn’t even know it was available!” he said.
“Because [the DTV] just slips into the bottom of the pipe, it made it easy to overcome the lack of fall. Previously, there had been no device for the condensate drain for the steam humidifier at this location. The DTV worked perfectly because it’s such a compact installation. The DTV fits into a tee with the sensor probe extending into the drain flow at the bottom of the drainpipe,” says Parisi.
“The compactness of the DTV makes it a good solution. The technology is more complex but a simpler installation,” said Hamm.
Parisi’s team installed three Drain Tempering Valves for this project. “We installed one DTV on the roof and one in the first-floor laboratory ceiling for a humidifier with limited fall. A DTV was also installed for the lab’s autoclave in their wash/wear room,” he said.
The whole renovation project took about a year. “It was very complex, with eleven different piping systems,” he explains. “The three DTVs worked well. The lab had no issues with drain water that would have been too hot for the drainage piping systems,” Parisi says.
Parisi was very fascinated by this Drain Tempering Valve. “It is one of those valves nobody else would appreciate without understanding the simplicity of this solution and installation,” Parisi explains. “…the DTV is our automatic solution for these systems.”
Compared to other options on the market, Parisi says ThermOmegaTech’s DTV is his favorite. “Their products are first class, extremely reliable, well-engineered, and well-manufactured.”
“I would recommend the DTV for the ease of installation and the lack of needing special conditions (like extra space) or other equipment. [You can] thread it into the drainpipe, connect the water supply, and it’s complete,” Parisi added. “The availability and convenience of getting the product from ThermOmegaTech are also well appreciated.”
Eric McTee of ME Engineers, Inc in Boulder, Colorado
As a Project Manager at ME Engineers, Plumbing Designer Eric McTee, CPD, is responsible for all aspects of a plumbing system’s design for new constructions and remodeling projects. In domestic hot water recirculation systems, McTee specifies CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valves. “I try to have CircuitSolver specified on as many jobs as possible due to its simplicity of it,” states McTee.
Some notable projects where he specified CircuitSolver® are the Laurel Cherry Creek Condominiums in Denver, the Broomfield Service Center, the Tupelo Honey Cafe in Denver, and Lucky Strike Bowling Centers in multiple locations.
McTee, an ASPE Denver Chapter member, first learned of CircuitSolver® from a manufacturer’s representative in 2014. “Straight from the beginning, I liked how it was a simple product that makes balancing a domestic hot water recirculation system really easy; it’s easy for the contractor and easy for the owner,” McTee says. “You install the CircuitSolver®, set it, and forget it. You do not have to worry about the system accidentally being knocked out of balance. I enjoy having a product that allows the system to work seamlessly,” McTee states.
McTee points out that once installed, the system is balanced. There is no way for the owner or a maintenance worker to adjust the valve accidentally and then need to call a balancing contractor to get the system back in line. “That is the number one cause of hot water circulation failures that I have seen,” states McTee.
“The initial cost of the CircuitSolver® is a little higher than a traditional balancing valve, but installation is faster and cheaper.
The system is already balanced and does not require a balancing contractor. [With CircuitSolver®,] you get a better-performing system that you do not have to worry about,” McTee emphasized.
“Any owner planning to hold onto a building for a long time needs to look past the initial cost and look at life-cycle cost. CircuitSolver® would save them money in the long run.” McTee typically specifies the CircuitSolver® assemblies with check valves because it makes it super easy for the contractors to install.
When asked what he likes most about these balancing valves, McTee said, “Compared to manual balancing valves, it is just a superior product. You will get better performance and system longevity out of it since you do not have to worry about rebalancing in the future. I really like the valves…because it makes [the system] easy to control. It is a product I will continue to specify for the rest of my career.”
When balancing a Domestic Hot Water System (DHWS), the goal is to ensure hot water is consistently available at every fixture throughout a building on-demand.
This can be difficult with manual balancing methods, which can deplete time, money, and labor resources.
Multiple contractors must manually balance one valve at a time, often revisiting the same valve several times to adjust for inadequate flow or temperature throughout the system.
The manual balancing process is both laborious and time-consuming. In the end, it may still result in future callbacks as system demands evolve because they cannot react to dynamic changes in the DHWS.
In comparison, thermostatic balancing valves like ThermOmegaTech’s CircuitSolver® valves use thermal actuator technology to automatically and continuously adjust flow through a domestic hot water recirculation system.
These self-actuating valves are installed at the end of each branch or riser before the return line to monitor the water temperature and will modulate open and closed to maintain a set temperature in each supply line.
How CircuitSolver® Thermostatic Balancing Valves Operate:
During the initial start-up of a DHWS, the valves are wide open and will begin to close once the system temperature requirements are met. During post-startup operation, each valve operates independently, establishing flow as needed to meet the system’s variable hot water demands throughout the day.
The valves will never fully close, always allowing a small amount of bypass of flow to the return to avoid dead-heading the recirculation pump during low usage.
CircuitSolver® is a temperature device that solves a temperature problem.
Through this entirely hands-off method, a DHWS using CircuitSolver® valves is balanced in a short time and can dynamically adapt to evolving system needs.
Compared to these thermostatic balancing valves, manual valves are simplistic, antiquated, and produce high labor costs.
The Savings
We surveyed plumbing contractors nationwide on domestic hot water system balancing costs and determined that CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valves generate significant cost savings by eliminating manual balancing labor.
The survey collected data on total costs associated with balancing a system, including labor time, employee salaries, required contractors per job, frequency of callbacks, and materials used. Below are the findings on the average cost of balancing the DHWS of a 10-story building.
Wyoming Life Resource Center is a licensed, Intermediate Care Facility for people with disabilities. Each person served has an individual plan for training, work, healthcare, and recreation. Residence homes are for three to nine individuals each.
The Center offers a comfortable, family-like setting in an accessible neighborhood. Independence is promoted in life skills, community access, social interaction, and leisure activities.
The older buildings were demolished to clear land for the new Center with ten new client cottages, day programming buildings, a clinic, a recreation center with an indoor pool, and a facilities building.
The Opportunity
Cody Cline, Vice President of GW Mechanical, had the opportunity to use ThermOmegaTech’s thermostatically controlled Drain Tempering Valves (DTV) in the new construction of the Wyoming Life Resource Center in Lander, Wyoming.
These Drain Tempering Valves (DTVs) are typically used in applications where a high-temperature discharge flow to a drain or sewer must be tempered with cold water to meet plumbing code requirements and prevent PVC piping damage due to over-temperature conditions.
“This healthcare facility has 14 separate buildings where we used the drain tempering valves (DTVs)” said Cline. “All the buildings have commercial dishwashers [installed] underneath the counters because we are working with limited space, [all the DTVs were] installed within cabinetry underneath the kitchen sinks.”
Each new building has one commercial dishwasher with discharge flow to a drain that needs to be tempered down; therefore, one DTV was installed in each location.
The Installation
“We had used [DTVs] on another application, and we liked it because we could modify the piping to work for the application. For this installation, I think [the engineer] chose [DTV] because it was so small and had to fit under the counter, in a very limited space,” explained Cline. “I would have chosen these DTVs anyway because it is the right application for the space.”
The dishwashers’ discharge temperature is 180 (degrees) Fahrenheit, so the water needed to be cooled down before reaching the PVC piping underground to comply with the plumbing codes.
The DTVs installed had a set point of 120 (degrees) Fahrenheit. These valves will automatically open to allow the injection of cold water to temper down the discharge fluid before it reaches the drain if the valves sense fluid temperatures above 120 (degrees) Fahrenheit.
“In this specific job, the DTV sped up the process because of its size and adaptability to that space. It made it easy. Other than that, the only way I know [how to temper the water is by] using a drain cooler. Drain coolers are big and bulky, you need the space to put them in, and there are more requirements,” Cline mentioned.
When asked what advantages the DTV has compared to other options on the market, Cline said, “Size and simplicity.” DTVs are small, have minimal moving parts, and are easy to maintain.
“It comes down to space and the fact that [the DTV] is mechanical; there are no moving parts, which is nice. There is nothing really to maintain,” said Cline.
“I recommend the product for functionality and space requirements. The DTV works great,” said Cody Cline, Vice President of GW Mechanical.
For more information on the Drain Tempering Valve, visit here.
This Month, ThermOmegaTech and Grundfos announced a partnership, bringing together two industry leaders to simplify and enhance domestic plumbing systems and installations for contractors throughout the United States.
“We are excited about growing our relationship with a well-respected worldwide company like Grundfos,” said Tom Ruggierio, national business development manager at ThermOmegaTech. “Having two companies with innovative, synergistic products working together will bring optimized solutions for domestic hot water systems that will serve the plumbing community well.”
The partnership supports the companies’ shared goals of enhancing the accessibility and conservation of water, our most precious resource, by providing solutions that exceed energy and efficiency standards. “Working together allows us to save time for contractors who no longer need to source the appropriate pump style and size,” said Ruggierio. “The CircuitSolver® solution will now come with an expert-recommended pump, allowing contractors to focus their efforts on what they do best — the installation.”
“We continue to be impressed by the innovation of our ThermOmegaTech partner. Joining forces is a win-win opportunity for both companies as well as our manufacturer representatives, contractors, and the homeowners,” said Barry Nauss, Grundfos vice president of HVAC OEM. “When used together, our products greatly minimize water consumption and increase energy efficiency by optimizing the recirculating flow rate. This ensures the precise amount of water and power are utilized as water rotates through the system versus flowing down the drain. We’re proud to offer our new, sustainability-focused packaged solutions to the market.”
Grundfos and ThermOmegaTech will also offer expert training sessions together in 2022 with the goal of increasing awareness of the benefits their product portfolios bring to a domestic hot water system.
Warminster, PA – ThermOmegaTech: CircuitSolver, a ThermOmegaTech brand, announced its CircuitSolver Cold Water Balancing Valve (CSU-CW) this month, and will be displaying the valve with a live demo at the AHR tradeshow in Las Vegas from January 31st to February 2nd. The CSU-CW is a dynamic valve designed to automatically balance cold water recirculation systems utilizing the same reliable and precise thermal actuator technology as the original CircuitSolver for balancing recirculating hot water systems.
This unique valve will effectively mitigate the risk of Legionella bacteria growth in a domestic cold-water system (DCWS) by continuously monitoring water temperatures and modulating flow to maintain a set temperature at the end of each branch or riser. This automatic response to water temperature balances the cold water throughout the system, reduces stagnation, and ensures “residual chlorine” is distributed throughout the system.
“Every day, the topic of Legionella mitigation is becoming more frequently discussed within the plumbing industry.” Tom Ruggierio, National Business Development Manager at ThermOmegaTech, says. “For domestic water systems, most of the focus has been on the hot water portion. However, over the past few years, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has taken a more proactive approach in addressing Legionella mitigation in domestic cold-water systems.”
To achieve stability, ThermOmegaTech’s engineers have worked diligently to develop a dynamic design that continuously addresses the ever-changing conditions often associated with cold water systems, including changes in building occupancy, building expansion, reduction in utilization, and other variables that may disrupt the balance of a system.
The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the plumbing industry in many ways and domestic cold-water systems have been a weak point in many buildings. “Reopening buildings found that their unbalanced cold-water systems had sat stagnant and warmed, leading to dangerous Legionella bacteria growth,” Ruggierio comments. “The CircuitSolver Cold Water valve automatically balances the DCWS and mitigates Legionella risk”.
About ThermOmegaTech®:
For over 35 years, ThermOmegaTech® has been a leader in the design and manufacture of self-actuated thermostatic technology. Founded in 1983, ThermOmegaTech® is a privately held company with 40,000 square feet of manufacturing and office facility located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company provides innovative solutions for a wide range of applications including freeze & scald protection, mixing & diverting, steam traps, thermal bypass, tepid water delivery, washdown, balancing, drain tempering, and many other applications where temperature control is critical. Key industries it serves include railroad, commercial plumbing, aerospace & defense and industrial.
ThermOmegaTech® specializes in manufacturing prototype/small volume and highly engineered custom products utilizing phase-change thermostatic actuator technology to satisfy individual project needs. For maximum efficiency and effective communication, ThermOmegaTech®’s R&D, manufacturing, assembly, testing, inspection, sales, and customer service departments are all located in one facility. Their QMS is certified to AS9100D standards demonstrating the focus on quality its products are distributed and used worldwide.
The USF is a public university with its main campus located in Tampa. About 10% of the school’s almost 40,000 undergraduate students live in one of the 44 on-campus dormitories. After temporarily shutting down during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, dorms reopened to students in the Fall of 2021.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Beacon Hall, the newest addition to the university’s on-campus dormitory buildings, opened in August of 2017. A coed, six-story construction, the dorm houses 378 residents in a mix of traditional and suite-style rooms.
Since opening, the 5th-floor gang shower, which is located in the center of the floor with student rooms lining the exterior of the building, had experienced a lot of hot water issues.
Mike Bishop, VP of Engineering at RGD Consulting Engineers stated: “Students used to turn on the showers, go to breakfast for 30 minutes, then come back to shower when the water was hot. Otherwise, they were taking a cold shower.”
A major inconvenience to students and a huge waste of water for the university, the system’s hot water demands needed to be re-evaluated.
THE INSTALLATION
After unsuccessful attempts to rectify the hot water supply and balancing issues, the developer contacted RGD Consulting Engineers.
Mike Bishop discovered that the manual balancing valves were a major roadblock in the DHW system functioning correctly due to its inability to adapt to changing system demands, and, with no question, recommended CircuitSolver thermostatic balancing valves.
Working with Spirit Group, a CircuitSolver representative in Florida, thirteen ½” CircuitSolver valves were installed at the end of each branch and one ½” CircuitSolver was placed on the return line to the water heater.
HOW THE CIRCUITSOLVER WORKS
The CircuitSolver® is a thermostatic balancing valve that automatically and continuously adjusts flow through a DHW system to maintain a specified temperature at the end of each hot water supply line. This keeps the system fully balanced with hot water available at all times and on all floors, even with variable and intermittent demands.
On startup, the system automatically balanced itself in under 3 hours, all without manual labor. “In the meantime, the plumber actually went out a did another job,” Bishop mentions, “Then they went and got breakfast, and when they came back [the DHW system] was balanced.”
THE RESULT
Since the installation of CircuitSolvers, all balancing issues in the Beacon Hall dormitory have been resolved. Students are able to take hot showers without 30-minute wait times, and complaints have ceased. Water usage has plummeted, and the extra recirculation pump was removed, effectively reducing utility usage.
As for Mike Bishop, in this balancing case study, he says that the contractor on the job reported a favorable experience. “He was ecstatic! This was his first CircuitSolver job, but he’s going to start using it everywhere.”
2021 was a busy year for ThermOmegaTech! Thanks to our loyal customers, supporting partners, and highly trained and dedicated staff, we met our goals while delivering on-time, quality products throughout the year! Check out our most significant accomplishments and highlights for CircuitSolver in 2021 in this Year In Review blog!
PLUMBING HIGHLIGHTS
We had a record-breaking sales performance for the CircuitSolver product line and developed a new product to be released in early Q2 of 2022.
Attended ASPE Tech Symposium and presented cold water recirculation as part of a joint panel discussion with other industry stakeholders and BOMA (Building Owners Management Association) International Conference in Boston in October:
Logue Family Holdings also produced 2 new videos: LFH Facility Tour & Production Capabilities, to highlight how our companies can help our customers!
To address the demands of domestic hot water balancing and the specific design requirement of different systems, the CircuitSolver thermostatic balancing valve offers a variety of sizes and configurations to satisfy any Domestic Hot Water System (DHWS) design.
1. My lines are prone to calcium buildup; will CircuitSolver clog?
No, it won’t. The CircuitSolver actuator’s modulation is powerful enough to force out any buildup in its path, developing over 40 lbs. (18kg) of thrust, which is more than enough to break loose any mineral buildup.
Note that mineral buildup is unlikely to occur in CircuitSolver since it mainly occurs where there is a heating surface or a very small leak.
2. Does CircuitSolver shut off tightly?
No. A small leakage (0.2 GPM) is built into CircuitSolver valves even when “closed” to avoid dead-heading the distribution branches.
In some applications where the water distribution piping is occasionally chemically or thermally sterilized, the leakage allows enough of this flow through the system to sterilize the line, regardless of temperature.
3. How much does CircuitSolver cost?
Compared to traditional manual balancing methods, CirucuitSolver reduces overall costs by 44% by saving money on components and labor. See our study here.
4. Where has CircuitSolver been installed?
All over the place! Take a look at our installation map to see where CircuitSolvers are installed near you.
5. How do you select the correct set-point for CircuitSolver?
As described in the product sheets, the “XXX” in the model number is the desired return line temperature. For example, you want the return temperature to be 110°F, and the line size is 3/4”, you would select a CS-3/4-110.
For more FAQs on our CircuitSolver product line, visit our FAQ page.
To ensure a supply of hot water is provided at every fixture in a timely manner, buildings typically utilize a domestic hot water recirculation system in their plumbing design. DHWR systems are considered a best practice in commercial, multi-family, and institutional buildings, especially if designed with thermostatic balancing technology and accurate pump size calculations and other considerations, as listed in this article.
Such recirculation systems should guarantee occupant comfort, safety, and code compliance, as well as water and energy conservation.
When designed properly, a DHWS will provide adequate amounts of water at the prescribed temperature to all fixtures and equipment during all times of use while ensuring a cost-effective, efficient, and lasting installation.
How to Improve Your DHWS Design with Thermostatic Balancing Valves
Understand the Importance of Balancing Domestic Hot Water Recirculation Systems
A DHWS needs to be properly balanced to ensure hot water is readily available on-demand, on all floors, and at every fixture.
Water is “lazy” and will flow to the path of least resistance. To ensure there is no short-circuiting and all branches have adequate hot water, a restriction point is needed to create only the flow required to offset heat loss in each branch or riser.
Typically relying on multiple branches off the hot water supply line, domestic hot water systems need a device that can respond dynamically to changing needs.
Traditional balancing valves require manual adjustment to create the flow rate needed in each branch.
Challenges associated with manual balancing:
Iterative and time-consuming
Difficult to properly set to the correct parameters
Static and unable to adjust to the changing conditions of a dynamic system.
DHWS are balanced when unoccupied, so “callbacks” are common to rebalance the system when the building becomes occupied.
Dynamically designed, these valves adjust in response to heat loss and demand fluctuations without the need for manual balancing, which ultimately reduces labor time and costs and eliminates hot water complaints.
Calculate Flow Rate to Offset Heat loss
When designing a DHWS, you should calculate the flow required to offset heat loss at the system level. Balancing flow will eliminate the risk of short-circuiting.
Minimizing flow velocity should also be considered to prevent any erosion in copper piping. Erosion can occur when high water velocities and hot water mix in the copper piping.
Ensure Accurate Pump Size Calculations
Inaccurately sizing the recirculation pump in your DHWS can result in many problems that will waste time and money in the long run.
Sizing Too Smallcan result in not enough flow to maintain temperature throughout the system.
Sizing Too Bigtends to be unnecessarily expensive due to the need for larger pumps and wasted energy. Oversized recirculation pumps can wear out copper piping and cause pinhole leaks as well.
To ensure an efficient and economic thermostatically balanced DHWS system, follow ASPE guidelines to determine the recirculation flow rate needed to offset heat loss.
For more information on recirculation pump sizing and demonstration examples of heat loss calculations, check out our Recirculation Pump Sizing Guide.
We’re excited to announce that CircuitSolver will be exhibiting at the upcoming tradeshows: ASPE Tech Symposium & BOMA International Conference & Expo. See below for tradeshow information on both – we hope to see you there!
ASPE Tech Symposium
Visit us at the ASPE Product Show to learn about
CircuitSolver’s latest thermostatic balancing valve
technology.
WHERE: San Diego Marriott Mission Valley – San Diego, CA
To determine the possible effects of hard water on CircuitSolver’s longevity, ThermOmegaTech has been conducting an ongoing hard water test on the same balancing valve at their headquarters in Warminster, PA since 2013.
A single valve was installed in the facility’s hard water on January 15, 2013, with its performance and appearance evaluated annually. 2021 is the 8th consecutive year that the test CircuitSolver has continued to operate efficiently, with no signs of mineral deposits, wear or fatigue in the installation.
Ongoing Effects of Hard Water Study
To determine exactly how hard the water was before the valve was installed, QC Laboratories, a certified test laboratory in Warminster, PA, analyzed collected water samples and found the hardness of ThermOmegaTech’s water to be 229 mg/L – this is considered “very hard” water.
Typical effects of hard water are often damaging and can include mineral deposits, scale buildup on plumbing fixtures, impaired flow rates, and stained appliances.
Test CircuitSolver as of 2021
The photos below display the test CircuitSolver and its disassembled components when they were removed during the latest inspection in 2021.
With no visible signs of mineral deposits, wear, or fatigue, the CircuitSolver continues to cycle normally after 153,120 modulations to date.
After disassembly and inspection, the CircuitSolver was reassembled and returned to the test installation. Click here to read the full study.
Since its debut in 2013, the CircuitSolver thermostatic balancing valve has been proven to make a significant difference in DHWS performance and durability.
To learn more about CircuitSolver and our other plumbing products, click here.
ThermOmegaTech® Rewards the 2020 Top CircuitSolver Sales Reps
Recognizing the many struggles and challenges that came with the year 2020, ThermOmegaTech® acknowledges and rewards their CircuitSolver® representative award winners with the prestigious “2020 Top Sales Rep” award and the “2020 Budget Buster” award as a strong thank you from the ThermOmegaTech® family.
The “2020 Top Sales Rep” award is presented, with great honor, to Specification Sales, Spirit Group, Kast Marketing, and Pinnacle Sales to be recognized as ThermOmegaTech®’s top four representative agencies with the largest percentage increase in sales year over year.
Exceeding their sales budget for the year, A6, Dellon Sales Company, Kast Marketing, Pinnacle Sales, RKR, Specification Sales, Spirit Group, PMI Sales, and Urell have been presented with the “2020 Budget Buster” award to recognize their hard work and accomplishments.
Aaron Markward, CircuitSolver® Regional Sales Manager for ThermOmegaTech®, expresses with great gratification his appreciation for the representative award winners of 2020.
“It is with great pleasure that we present these two awards to our top CircuitSolver sales reps and budget busters of 2020. Despite all the challenges we faced this past year, our CircuitSolver® reps proved the ability to achieve and exceed their goals.”
We appreciate the constant support, communication, and effort put forth by all our rep firms this past year and every year. We are excited to continue to grow the CircuitSolver® brand with our reps throughout the commercial plumbing industry. With that, we want to express a BIG Thank you to our award winners!
Since its discovery in the summer of 1976, Legionella bacteria has been an ever increasingly hot topic in the plumbing industry, seeming to lurk in pipes and water systems, waiting to strike in a moment of lapsed attention or vigilance.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, the CDC reports that as of 2018, cases of Legionnaires’ Disease, pneumonia caused by aspirating the Legionella bacteria, have risen significantly. With nearly 10,000 cases reported in 2018 alone, Legionnaires seems to be running rampant in modern water systems.
While some attribute the sharp rise in case numbers to improved reporting, awareness, and testing methods, it has also been suggested that aging infrastructure and climate change could be contributing factors.
While prevalent in modern plumbing systems, Legionella bacteria only presents a risk when able to colonize, typically in stretches of piping with warm, stagnant water. For many buildings, simple changes to system design and management procedures can significantly reduce the prevalence of Legionella bacteria and inhibit growth before it can begin.
1. Avoid “Dead Legs” in Piping Design
Minimizing the distance between supply lines and fixtures in your system design can reduce areas of stagnation in the hot water piping which could accumulate scale and biofilm buildup, a prime location for Legionella bacteria to set up shop.
2. Maintain Water Temperature Control
Legionella bacteria flourishes in warm water with comfortable temperatures ranging from around 70°F to 115°F. Storing water at temperatures above 120°F will generally help prevent colonization.
To prevent bacteria growth, specify hot water tanks that store water above 140°F (60°C) and use a mixing valve to recirculate it to the fixtures at 120°F (48.9°C) to comply with anti-scalding regulations.
3. Keep Pumps Running Continuously
Keeping your recirculation pumps running at all times will keep water flowing and prevent bacteria from grouping together and adhering to pipe walls.
4. Perform Routine Maintenance of Equipment
The CDC recommends cleaning water tanks routinely including periodically draining the system to remove scale and sediment. This will prevent biofilm, organic debris, and corrosion from contaminating your water system.
CircuitSolver Sanitary Flush Valve
For domestic hot water systems using a heat-and-flush thermal disinfection method to prevent Legionella bacteria growth, balancing during the flush is essential to ensure thorough sanitation.
CircuitSolver Sanitary Flush Valve utilizes two thermal actuators for automatic thermal balancing of the system; one for normal DHWS operation, and the other for thermal disinfection. Click here to see how it works.
Sister companies come home to Logue Family Holdings headquarters to facilitate inter-departmental operations and communication.
In June of 2021, Logue Family Holdings, Inc. will be consolidating all three of its independently operated business subsidiaries under one roof in Warminster, Pennsylvania.
The building is the headquarters of ThermOmegaTech, Inc., a mechanical valve manufacturer founded in 1983 that specializes in custom-engineered fluid thermal control solutions, as well as BBQ Guru, home of the automatic Guru line of BBQ temperature controllers for charcoal grills and smokers.
Joining the duo will be TJM Electronics, a contract electronic manufacturer specializing in PCB assembly and electro-mechanical assembly for Aerospace & Defense, Medical, Industrial, LED lighting, and non-commodity consumer electronic products, acquired by Logue Family Holdings in 2019.
Douglas Snow, VP of Production for Logue Family Holdings, cites that the consolidation of operations under a single physical roof is expected to result in increased efficiencies, effective resource sharing, and cross-selling between relevant product lines.
“There is already quite a bit of cooperation between the companies for developing and delivering products” Snow mentions. “TJM Electronics provides both the PCBAs and final assembly of electrical components within the BBQ Guru controllers and the PCBAs for ThermOmegaTech’s passenger car railroad heaters. Getting us all under one roof can only increase efficiencies and communication.”
The facility features more than 40,000 square feet of production, R&D, engineering, and office space that is to be shared between the three companies. Both ThermOmegaTech and TJM electronics QMS’s are certified to AS9100D standards which is based on and includes ISO 9001:2015. Due to our growth in the Aerospace and Defense industry, we have decided to pursue AS9100D as our primary Quality Management System to create standard operating procedures across all business segments, which allows us to enhance the quality of our products, while increasing efficiencies and alleviating undue price increases to customers.
TJM Electronics will be bringing to the building an impressive roster of advanced electronics manufacturing machinery including pick and place, stencil printers, multizone reflow ovens, wave solder system, and more.
To accommodate the needs of electronic manufacturing, the production space allocated to TJM Electronics has been outfitted with a specialized electrostatic discharge flooring to prevent static electricity from damaging sensitive electrical components along with a state-of-the-art humidification system.
The move will consolidate all 100+ Logue Family Holding employees under one roof and is forecasted to be completed by late June.
About ThermOmegaTech, Inc:
For over 35 years, ThermOmegaTech has been a leader in the design and manufacture of self-actuated thermostatic technology. Founded in 1983, ThermOmegaTech is a privately held certified small business with 40,000 square feet of manufacturing and office facility located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company provides innovative solutions for a wide range of applications including freeze & scald protection, mixing & diverting, steam traps, thermal bypass, tepid water delivery, washdown, balancing, drain tempering, and many other applications where temperature control is critical. Key industries it serves include railroad, commercial plumbing, aerospace & defense and industrial. ThermOmegaTech specializes in manufacturing prototype/small volume and highly engineered custom products utilizing phase-change thermostatic actuator technology to satisfy individual project needs.
For maximum efficiency and effective communication, ThermOmegaTech’s R&D, manufacturing, assembly, testing, inspection, sales, and customer service departments are all located in one facility. Their QMS is certified to AS9100D standards demonstrating the focus on quality its products are distributed and used worldwide.
Founded in 2003 in Warminster, PA, BBQ Guru has been making barbecuing easier, more convenient, and enjoyable with patented electronic and battery-operated temperature-control devices for charcoal and wood-burning cookers. BBQ Guru are the leaders and inventors of BBQ temperature-control devices. They were the first in the marketplace to develop and sell an entire line of high-tech cooker accessories, including the award-winning PartyQ, DigiQ, and CyberQ.
TJM Electronics has been leading the way in electronics contract manufacturing since 1989 with the emergence of Surface Mount Technology (SMT). One of the first automated SMT companies certified to MIL-STD-2000 on the east coast, TJM is recognized by major defense contractors as a “3 Star Supplier” and maintains a reputable status as a Preferred Supplier List member for electronics contract manufacturing. TJM’s capabilities include custom short or long run PCB assembly, accurate and functional prototype representations of designs, cable and mechanical assembly, product testing and evaluation to ensure Designed for Manufacturability (DFM) and final packaging. Through its brand, TemitroniK, TJM also assembles oversized LED boards of any shape and size, up to 460mm (18.11″) wide and 1200mm (47.24″) long.
TJM Electronics’ automated technology allows them to meet the most rigorous and specialized PCB requirements for industries such as aerospace and defense, medical, industrial, LED lighting, and non-commodity consumer electronic products. TJM Electronics has been ISO 9001 certified for contract electro-mechanical manufacturing for over 2 decades, and has just recently received AS9100D certification.
The dynamically designed CircuitSolver® balancing valve is sweeping the nation, with thousands of installations and lots of happy customers from coast to coast with instant hot water at their fixtures!
CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valves are proven to effectively balance DHWS flow and deliver instant hot water, regardless of real-life demand fluctuations. Replacing the headache and callbacks commonly associated with manual balancing, CircuitSolver’s dynamic design save time and money, eliminate callbacks, and keep users happy.
Customers Are LOVING The CircuitSolver® Balancing Valve
“With CircuitSolver®, we could see results quickly. The valves were fully open during startup and gradually closed as each valve reached its set temp, rapidly getting hot water to each line.” – Kavli Institute UCSB
“With the CircuitSolver®, the flow rates are negligible compared to the 20-gallon per minute you would want to have with these 47-floor risers.” – Rittenhouse Hill Apartment Buildings
“A project this size would take 3 or 4 plumbers per building at least 2 weeks to get the system perfectly balanced. With CircuitSolver®, we were able to balance it automatically in much less time.” – USC Student Housing
“I haven’t come across another product like CircuitSolver®. Once you install them you never have to adjust it unlike manual balancing valve where you have to balance every single valve you install.” – Da Vinci Project
“Before we installed CircuitSolver®, we would have wait times between 5-7 minutes for hot water on the higher floors. We received a lot of complaints and would comp between 10-12 rooms a month. Since we’ve installed CircuitSolver® we are getting hot water when we need it and have not had a single complaint. It’s a great product. I’ve never used anything like it.” – Embassy Suites
Past CircuitSolver® Installation Projects:
Click on the images below to read real case studies on how CircuitSolver® saved building owners the headache and cost of manual balancing in their domestic hot water recirculation systems.
CircuitSolver and thermostatic technology was featured in the PHCP Pros January issue, with three plumbing industry professionals weighing in on the future of domestic hot water recirculation system balancing technology.
Instant hot water at the turn of a tap is a luxury that many in developed countries take for granted, with little thought spared to exactly how it is available on the 50th floor.
For decades, this feat of engineering has resulted from the many hours spent manually balancing and rebalancing domestic hot water recirculation systems, often performed several times to accommodate flow as system demand evolved. While effective enough in principle, manual balancing flounders in practice, with inflated labor costs and inflexibility in the face of usage variations.
To conquer the challenges inherent to traditional manual balancing methods, ThermOmegaTech invented the CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valve. It automatically balances the DHWS by adjusting flow through the system to maintain a set temperature at the end of each supply branch, eliminating the need for manual balancing while ensuring instant hot water delivery to each fixture and accommodating flow to meet demand variations.
Since its debut in 2012, the CircuitSolver has been installed in thousands of domestic hot water recirculation systems throughout the United States and Canada.
ThermOmegaTech caught up with three plumbing engineers for their opinion on the valve: Joper Tupas, PE, CPD, from the Murray Co. Engineering Department, Rancho Dominguez, Calif.; Rick Sawyer from BMA Mechanical+, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and Scott Fawkes and Michael Washburn from Architectural Resources Inc., New York, N.Y.”
1. What is the GPM when the valve is closed? When CircuitSolver is closed it does not shut off completely and still allows a fraction of a gallon per minute flow. This allows it to better sample upstream water temperature changes, as well as better facilitate high temperature sanitizing cycles of the domestic hot water system. To determine the GPM, multiply the square root of the pressure differential across the valve by the Cv.
For example, if pressure differential is 4 psi, square root of 4 is 2, and 2 X Cv = GPM.
2. What is the full open rate of CircuitSolver? The published Cv flow coefficient for each valve size allows calculation of the full open flow rate. Multiply the square root of the pressure differential across the valve by the Cv to get GPM. For example, if pressure differential is 4 psi, square root of 4 is 2, and 2 X Cv = the full open GPM.
3. What is the highest temperature CircuitSolver can handle? CircuitSolver is rated to a maximum temperature of 250°F (121°C). All the valves can easily handle more than 212°F (100°C) which is the boiling point of water and higher than any water temperature in a domestic hot water system.
4. What is the pressure drop across a CircuitSolver? The basic approximation for the pressure drop across the CircuitSolver within a given branch utilize the following equation where Cv = design Cv and flow is the estimated flow to offset heat loss in the branch:
For this example – Cv = .85 (design Cv for ¾” CircuitSolver)
Flow = 1 GPM (estimated flow to offset heat loss in a given branch) ΔP = [GPM/Cv]2 = [1/.85]2 = 1.4 psi
5. Is there a warranty offered with the valve? Yes, the CircuitSolver product line offers a 3-year warranty.
Traditional manual balancing is labor-intensive and time-consuming, requiring several contractors to balance one valve at a time, often revisiting valves over and over to adjust for inadequate flow or temperature. Due to this, manual balancing inevitably leads to hefty labor costs and frequent callbacks to accommodate for the changing demands of a dynamic system.
The CircuitSolver® Solution
The CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valve automatically adjusts flow through a domestic hot water recirculation system to maintain a set temperature at the end of each supply branch.
Dynamic and self-modulating, CircuitSolver® balances a system in minutes and automatically directs hot water where it is needed, dynamically adjusting to satisfy changing system needs. CircuitSolver® effectively eliminates the need for manual balancing labor and callbacks, saving a substantial amount of time and money.
Cost Savings
In the Spring of 2020, CircuitSolver® conducted a nationwide survey of plumbing contractors to quantify the cost savings of replacing manual balancing valves with the CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valve. Data was collected on total costs associated with balancing a system including total labor time, employee salaries, required contractors per job, frequency of callbacks, and materials used.
The survey concluded that, when directly comparing the total manual vs. thermostatic balancing costs of a 10-story DHWS, implementing the CircuitSolver® balancing valve would reduce total costs by 44%. Click hereto see the balancing cost savings calculations!
The CircuitSolver®, a market-leading thermostatic and self-actuating balancing valve, continuously monitors water temperatures and automatically adjusts flow through domestic hot water recirculation systems to maintain a set temperature at the end of each supply branch, effectively eliminating the need for manual balancing.
CircuitSolver®, the fast-acting, dynamic valve, easily accommodates system demand variations by directing hot water where it is needed, ensuring instant hot water delivery across many floors and fixtures.
Offered in a variety of sizes and configurations including ball valves, integrated unions, check valves, strainers, and ProPress® ends, the CircuitSolver® effortlessly fits into any new or existing DHWS design.
Offering & Optional Configurations
With a variety of sizes and configurations available, the CircuitSolver® valve caters to your unique design specifications and individual needs.
CircuitSolver Install: Mental Health Institute of Quebec Case Study
The below CircuitSolver install case study features a project from our neighbors in the North.
Installation Site Overview
Aerial View of IUSMQ
The Mental Health Institute of Quebec (IUSMQ) is a hospital specializing in psychiatric care. Founded in Quebec City in 2009, the facility has more than 500 beds for short-term and long-term psychiatric care.
IUSMQ is a large building with up to 6 floors in some wings and a total floor area of about 160,000 m². To accommodate changing staff and patient needs, the IUSMQ’s main pavilion was recently renovated, with updates being made to the domestic hot water recirculation system.
The Opportunity
Instead of implementing an army of traditional hot water heaters to supply the sprawling facility, IUSMQ’s water supply is heated by a hospital-owned power plant and distributed throughout its wings and floors.
To account for the heat loss that occurred as the hot water traveled through the building’s long recirculation lines, the power plant had to intentionally “overheat” the water being delivered to IUSMQ.
However, as a result of new standards and regulations, the hospital was required to adjust the temperature of incoming water to a safer level.
According to the building’s consultant, André Renaud, this resulted in the hospital experiencing a lack of hot water in some areas.
The Installation
Renaud initially reviewed the recirculation system to determine the fixed flow rate needed to offset heat loss and consumption. According to his calculations, the main recirculation piping would not be able to withstand the high flow rate required due to the risk of premature erosion of the copper piping.
Due to this, the consultant chose to replace the system’s fixed flow valves with 108 CircuitSolvers.
Installed in-line, CircuitSolver is a self-actuating, thermostatic recirculation valve that automatically and continuously adjusts flow to maintain a specified temperature at the end of each domestic hot water supply line.
CircuitSolver bases dynamic flow rates solely on fluid temperature, easily accommodating for passive system heat loss and demand fluctuations, with no need for re-balancing.
By switching to the CircuitSolver, Renaud eliminated the labor and guesswork associated with the manual balancing of fixed flow valves.
The Result
After a quick and easy install and almost instantaneous automatic balancing, hot water is now available throughout the entire main pavilion on demand.
Code Compliant DTV – Simplify By Plumbing For Compliance
As a component of their normal operation, commercial equipment such as dishwashers, combi ovens, and steam humidifiers discharge superheated steam and water. This effluent needs to be tempered down before going to the drain and entering public sewers.
ThermOmegaTech® offers the drain tempering valve (DTV) to simplify this process and comply with drain temperature limitations of international plumbing codes.
See some FAQs about the DTV below.
FAQ #1: When should the DTV be used?
A DTV should be used in any application where drain effluent with temperatures exceeding 140°F must be cooled prior to entering a public sewer in accordance with plumbing codes.
Failure to comply with these temperature limitations may lead to failed inspections, fines, and damage to PVC piping or equipment.
FAQ #2: How does the DTV work?
The DTV is installed into the drain line so that the hot effluent passes over the thermostatic actuator to constantly monitor drain water temperature. When effluent temperatures rise above the valve’s set-point, the valve will automatically modulate open to allow cold water to flow into the drain, cooling the effluent.
Once the effluent’s temperature falls below the set-point, the DTV modulates closed, cutting off cold water flow to conserve water.
FAQ #3: Can the DTV handle steam?
Yes, the DTV can handle fluid temperatures up to 250°F.
FAQ #4: What sizes are available?
The DTV is offered in 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ sizes in both brass and stainless steel.
FAQ #5: How do I select a size?
Use our online DTV Flow Calculator! To view the calculator, click here.
Reliable and self-operating, the DTV ensures drain water temperatures comply with internationally mandated plumbing regulations.
For more information on the DTV, we invite you to visit our website or to contact our team of product experts.
CircuitSolver Competition: How Other Balancing Valves Measure Up
Design engineers have a few options to choose from when selecting a balancing valve to include in a domestic hot water system.
The differences between the valves are not always readily available, and the amount of information on the internet can be overwhelming to distill down on calls with engineers or contractors.
Check out our easy-to-understand charts below to see how the CircuitSolver® compares to other thermostatic balancing valves now on the market:
ThermOmegaTech CircuitSolver®
Caleffi ThermoSetter®
Acorn TZV
TempFlow®
Bell & Gossett Temp Setter™
Manufacture Location [1]
USA
Italy
???
???
NSF 61 Certified [2]
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Material of Valve
Stainless Steel
Brass
Brass
Stainless Steel Internals
Years of Install
Nine
One
One
One
Optional Temperature Gauge
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Field Adjustable
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Factory Set
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tamper Proof [3]
Yes
No
No
No
Integrated Union Option [4]
Yes
No
No
No
Integrated Check Valve Option
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Optional Ball Valves
Yes – 2
No
Yes – 3
No
Optional ProPress Ends
Yes
No
No
No
Optional Strainer
Yes
No
No
No
Maximum Working Pressure
200 PSI
230 PSI
150 PSI
145 PSI
Maximum Allowable Temperature
250°F
195°F
180°F
150°F
Available Sizes [5]
1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1 1/4″, 1 1/2″, 2″
1/2″ & 3/4″
1/2″
1/2″ & 3/4″
Notes:
[1] CircuitSolver® meets the requirements of the “Buy America” and “Buy American” Acts.
[2] All but one state in the USA, Hawaii, requires or recommends NSF 61 certification for all components of the domestic hot water system.( http://www.nsf.org/newsroom_pdf/water_asdwa_survey.pdf ) See pg. 5.
[3] The ability to maintain system design without unexpected adjustments being made to balancing valves.
[4] An integrated union allows for easy servicing.
[5] Frequently 1” balancing valves are used in higher flow applications and in return line back to the hot water heater.
Thermal Disinfection Options
High-temperature sanitary flushes are performed in domestic hot water recirculation systems to kill Legionella bacteria and prevent growth.
The CircuitSolver® Sanitary Flush Valve features a dual-actuator to automatically balance the DHWS, even during the disinfection process. A “low-temp” actuator balances the system during normal operation, and a second “high-temp” actuator allows for maximum flow during the high-temperature flush.
ThermOmegaTech CircuitSolver® Union Sanitary Flush
Caleffi ThermoSetter®
Acorn TZV
TempFlow®
Bell & Gossett Temp Setter™
Temperature Well
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Field Adjustable
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Thermal Disinfection
Add-On Option [1]
No
Yes
No
No
Manually Adjust for High Temperature Flush
No
No
Yes
Yes
Factory Set
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Integrated Union
Yes
No
No
No
Integrated Check Valve Standard
Yes
No
Yes
No
Maximum Working Pressure
200 PSI
230 PSI
125 PSI
145 PSI
Maximum Temperature
250°F
195°F
180°F
150°F
Available Sizes [2]
½”, ¾”, & 1”
½” & ¾”
½”
½” & ¾”
Notes:
[1] Thermal disinfection option can be added to standard valve without purchase of separate thermal disinfection valve.
[2] Depending on flow rates for thermal disinfection, a larger valve may be preferred.
Should you have any questions about the above CircuitSolver competition comparison charts, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of product experts.
Temperature is often a subjective experience – how cold is jacket weather, how hot is too hot for a shower, etc.
What is never subjective? Drain effluent temperature restrictions.
Drain water from commercial equipment exceeding the 140°F cut-off point can significantly impact a business’ operations due to failed inspections, fines, and damaged PVC piping.
To simplify compliance with international plumbing codes governing effluent flow, ThermOmegaTech offers the drain tempering valve (DTV). Compact and effective, the DTV is 100% self-operating and is incredibly easy to install on new or pre-existing commercial equipment set-ups.
The DTV is installed into the equipment’s drain line so the hot effluent flows over the valve’s thermal actuator, with a cold water supply on the valve’s inlet. While there, the DTV continuously monitors effluent temperatures.
When the effluent’s temperature reaches theDTV’s set-point, the valve will automatically open to mix in cold water and temper down the effluent into compliance range.
Once the effluent temperature has fallen to the DTV’s set-point, the valve will shut off the cold flow to conserve water.
Selecting a DTV
The DTV is offered in several sizes with differing flow rates. To streamline selecting the size best suited to your individual tempering application, use our online DTV Flow Calculator tool.
Don’t sweat the next inspector’s visit – choose the drain tempering valve for guaranteed effluent compliance with all international plumbing codes.
For more information on the DTV or our other plumbing products, we invite you to visit the CircuitSolver website for product sheets.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team of product experts or your dedicated local representative.
Residential CircuitSolver Installation Case Study – The Austonian in Austin, TX
Below is a CircuitSolver® success story brought to you from the Lone Star state:
Located in the heart of Austin, TX, The Austonian is a premier luxury residence boasting 360° views, unparalleled amenities, and a Four Star rating from Austin Energy Green Building. Towering over downtown at 683 feet tall, The Austonian is the tallest residential tower west of the Mississippi River.
Despite its laundry list of amenities, The Austonian’s managers were not satisfied with the hot water delivery time to the building’s units. In some cases, 2-3 minutes were needed for warm water to reach fixtures.
A team of engineers was assembled and tasked with finding a solution and improving hot water delivery times.
With more than 50 floors to retrofit, the CircuitSolver® was deemed the ideal and only solution to The Austonian’s domestic hot water system challenge.
Hot water distribution lines had originally been placed in corridor ceilings and branched into residential units during construction. Certified plumbers installed CircuitSolver® in each unit’s ceiling near the hot water return line. Located behind false air vents for easy access, shut-off valves were placed on either side of the CircuitSolver® for ease of maintenance in the future.
A majority of the work done was in corridors and access to private residences had to be scheduled. Fortunately construction time in residences was minimized due to CircuitSolver’s® simple installation and set-up.
The Austonian
Residents are reportedly pleased with improved hot water delivery times following CircuitSolver® installation. Units with wait times of multiple minutes saw a dramatic reduction, and fixtures now reach proper temperature in 20-30 seconds. A reduction of water waste and the implementation of lower horsepower pumps has also resulted in significant utility cost savings.
This success story is one among many, and thousands of installations around the country benefit from implementing the CircuitSolver®.
Should you have any questions about implementing the CircuitSolver®, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of product experts.
As a component of their normal operation, commercial equipment such as dishwashers, combi ovens, and steam humidifiers discharge super heated steam and water. This effluent needs to be tempered down before going to drain and entering public sewers. ThermOmegaTech® offers the drain tempering valve (DTV) to simplify this process and comply with drain temperature limitations of international plumbing codes.
See some FAQs about the DTV below.
FAQ #1: When should the DTV be used?
A DTV should be used in any application where drain effluent with temperatures exceeding 140°F must be cooled prior to entering a public sewer in accordance with plumbing codes.
Failure to comply with these temperature limitations may lead to failed inspections, fines, and damage to PVC piping or equipment.
FAQ #2: How does the DTV work?
The DTV is installed into the drain line so that the hot effluent passes over the thermostatic actuator to constantly monitor drain water temperature. When effluent temperatures rise above the valve’s set-point, the valve will automatically modulate open to allow cold water to flow into the drain, cooling the effluent.
Once the effluent’s temperature falls below the set-point, the DTV modulates closed, cutting off cold water flow to conserve water.
FAQ #3: Can the DTV handle steam?
Yes, the DTV can handle fluid temperatures up to 250°F.
FAQ #4: What sizes are available?
The DTV is offered in 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ sizes in both brass and stainless steel.
FAQ #5: How do I select a size?
Use our online DTV Flow Calculator! To view the calculator, click here.
Reliable and self-operating, the DTV ensures drain water temperatures comply with internationally mandated plumbing regulations.
For more information on the DTV or these Drain Tempering Valve FAQs, we invite you to visit our website or to contact our team of product experts.
Inspira Health CircuitSolver Case Study – Mullica Hill, New Jersey, USA
Installation Site Overview
Inspira Health operates a variety of healthcare facilities throughout southern New Jersey, including Inspira Health Center Mullica Hill Commons in Mullica Hill, NJ.
Opened in November of 2019, the 5-floor Mullica Hill Commons facility is a state-of-the-art general medical and surgical center, featuring specialized obstetrics and gynecology services.
Inspira Health Mulica Hill Commons
The Opportunity
A new construction, Mullica Hill Commons’ contractors relied on the expert advice of the design engineers to specify products that would meet the needs of a dynamic healthcare DHWR system. The CircuitSolver® Union Assembly Strainer (CSUAS) balancing valve was specified at 140°F to satisfy the design’s hot water requirements and reduce installation time. The CSUAS comes preassembly with the CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valve with an integrated union, two ball valves on either side and an integrated strainer.
The Installation
In accordance with the project specifications, MMC Contractors installed 102 CircuitSolver® Union Assembly Strainers throughout the system saving significant time by not having to manually install each component. CircuitSolver® valves were installed at the end of each domestic hot water branch in place of manual valves to provide a balanced system. “There was no balancing necessary because these valves are self-adjusting,” Mike Formica of MMC Contractors commented. “The CircuitSolver® is the fastest and easiest way to balance a system.”
These self-actuating, thermostatic valves automatically and continuously adjust system flow to maintain a specified temperature at the end of hot water supply line by monitoring water temperature, eliminating manual balancing as well as the possibility of callbacks for adjustments to meet changing system demands.
The Result
Soon after startup, the facility was supplied with hot water throughout the building without any balancing procedures. Inspira Health Center Mullica Hill Commons opened on November 8, 2019 to much fanfare and celebration and, thanks to CircuitSolver®, the staff of Mullica Hill Commons will be spending many years caring for their patients with instant hot water at the turn of a tap.
For more information on this Inspira Health CircuitSolver case study or how the CircuitSolver line of balancing valves can meet your domestic hot water system balancing needs, visit our plumbing products page.
We frequently receive questions about DHWS design, CircuitSolver® applications, and our other plumbing products during calls with our representative agencies. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions:
Q1: Do you have to use CircuitSolver® with a variable speed recirculation pump?
A1: No, CircuitSolver®s may be installed in systems using standard fixed speed or variable speed recirculation pumps. However, some features of a variable speed pump, also known as a “smart” pump, can be an excellent match with CircuitSolver®s.
Q2: What happens during system start-up when using a fixed speed pump and CircuitSolver®?
A2: At startup, CircuitSolver® is fully open, therefore GPM is high and head loss is low, allowing the system to balance quickly. As water temperature rises to CircuitSolver® set-point the valve modulates “closed”, adding friction/heat loss and reducing the flow from the pump. As a result, the flow required to offset heat loss will be satisfied.
Q3: How do you size the recirculation pump in systems with CircuitSolver®?
A3: Pumps should be appropriately sized to offset total system heat loss, whether it is a fixed speed or variable speed pump. Systems should not be sized for start-up, they should be sized for normal operation of the recirculation system. The CircuitSolver® Design Guide can help you calculate flow, pressure loss, and the recirculation pump size of your system. The design guide is available on our website’s plumbing specs page here.
Q4: Can CircuitSolver® work in the same recirculation system as an aquastat?
A4: Yes, CircuitSolver® can function in systems with aquastats, however ASHRAE, ASPE, and OSHA strongly advise against turning off recirculation pumps with aquastats.
Q5: Do you have BIM and Revitt files on your website?
St. Elizabeth Healthcare operates five facilities throughout Northern Kentucky, including St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood, a state-of-the-art general medical and surgical facility.
As a healthcare facility serving the larger Cincinnati metro area, there is a constant flow of patients, visitors, and medical personnel through their halls. Unfortunately, the hot water was not flowing quite so quickly. For years the hospital had dealt with an unreliable and unbalanced hot water supply. The domestic hot water system’s (DHWS) return runs were operating inefficiently, leaving some of the hospital wings completely without hot water at times.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
To address this problem, MarkCo Plumbing installed around 90 CircuitSolver® balancing valves in their DHWS. CircuitSolvers were installed at the end of each hot water branch in the system, replacing the manual balancing valves.
These self-actuating, thermostatic recirculation valves automatically and continuously adjusted the flow to maintain the specified temperature at the end of each domestic hot water supply line. No manual balancing was required.
After the successful CircuitSolver® installation, St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood now has access to an on-demand hot water supply in all wings, on every floor, at every fixture. CircuitSolver® was able to balance the system when engineers could not.
Where manual balancing fails, CircuitSolver® delivers.
About CircuitSolver®:
The CircuitSolver® is a thermostatic, self-actuating balancing valve that continuously and automatically adjusts the flow through each branch of a domestic hot water recirculation system to maintain the specified temperature at the end of each branch, regardless of fluctuations in hot water demand. It is a direct replacement for manual balancing valves and eliminates balancing labor and callbacks.
The ThermOmegaTech® STVM® Washdown Station utilizes a silent type venture mixing valve to combine steam and water together to produce a user-defined temperature. This ingeniously designed product is efficient, easy to maintain, and most importantly safe – a necessary addition to any facility that uses washdown stations.
Designed to have a quick startup time and an even shorter downtime, the STVM® features an interchangeable cartridge for ease of maintenance. Unlike other manufacturers’ washdown stations that require a specialized tool and the user to take the unit off the wall to perform regular maintenance, ThermOmegaTech® STVM® Washdown Station requires only a standard wrench and doesn’t need to be moved from its point of installation. Simply unscrew the cartridge from the top of the unit, put in a new cartridge, and the unit is up and running within moments.
As the STVM unit uses steam to heat water, personnel safety is a top priority. If the cold-water supply to the unit is interrupted the thermostatic mixing valve will sense the over-temperature flow and close off, preventing operation. The valve will remain closed until the cold water supply is restored, after which it will automatically open and re-establish flow, protecting both personnel and equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions about the STVM Washdown Station:
Q: What is the difference between a 150°F unit and a 185°F unit? A: These numbers indicate the unit’s over-temperature shutoff point, typically due to a sudden lack of a cold-water supply. Once the unit’s thermostatic actuator senses its set shut-off temperature (either 150°F or 185°F, depending on the model) the internal mixing valve will modulate closed and stop the flow. Only after the cold-water supply has been restored to the unit will the valve modulate open and re-establish flow. The unit’s over-temperature shutoff point is not field adjustable.
Q: How can we make the unit’s downtime for maintenance even shorter? A: Keep a spare cartridge on hand! Don’t wait for the STVM® Washdown Station to require maintenance to order a new cartridge as the lead time will result in the unit being out of service until the new cartridge is received. By keeping a spare cartridge on hand the station’s downtime is minimized, allowing personnel to get back to work sooner.
It is critical to have a washdown station in food processing, dairy, breweries, wineries, chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical facilities to maintain a clean environment. Washdown stations are used to quickly and efficiently clean and sanitize equipment in place between production runs or shift changes.
ThermOmegaTech® offers three different washdown station options:
STVM® Steam & Water Station
The STVM® Washdown Station provides an effective high temperature wash in an easy-to-maintain package. Utilizing our patented Silent Venturi Mixing Valve (STVM®) technology, this washdown station mixes together steam and water to produce a high-powered wash at a user-defined temperature.
Designed to be self-scouring, the mixing valve prevents mineral buildup in tight spaces, decreasing maintenance frequency. To further reduce time spent on required regular maintenance, the unit is in-line serviceable. The user simply switches out the STVM® cartridge with another and the unit is back up and running in minutes.
Safety is our priority, so every STVM® Washdown Station has two built-in safety features – interlocking ball valves to prevent steam-only operation, and an automatic shut-off when output is 15°F over the unit’s temperature set-point (either 150°F or 185°F) or when cold water flow is interrupted.
HCX Water & Water Station
For facilities without an available steam supply, the HCX Station is an ideal solution. This unit utilizes individual globe valves to mix hot and cold water to a user-defined temperature, clearly displayed on the integrated temperature display gauge.
To prevent accidental scalding, the unit is offered with our unique SmartFlow feature. This in-line, over-temperature safety valve automatically stops flow should the unit’s output exceed a factory specified set-point.
HCS Single-Channel Station
The HCS Station simplifies washdown applications even further, providing a high-powered single stream of either cold water or pre-heated hot water at the turn of a ball valve. The unit employs an integrated temperature gauge to confirm output temperature.
Recognized in the commercial plumbing industry for our innovative line of CircuitSolver® thermostatic balancing valves, our dynamic paraffin wax actuator technology can be used in a wide range of applications for several markets. In addition to the CircuitSolver® line, ThermOmegaTech® plumbing product offerings also include the ESS Water Heater for tepid water delivery to emergency safety showers and face/eyewash stations.
Emergency safety fixtures are critical to employee safety in any workplace where hazardous chemicals are handled. For facilities without a ready supply of steam or hot water, the ESS Water Heater is a safe and reliable solution. Specifically designed to comply with ANSI Z358.1-2014 tepid water standards, this product combines a third-party electric water heater and ThermOmegaTech®’s Therm-O-Mix® Station Water/Water Mixing (WWM).
When an emergency safety station is activated, cold water from the facility and hot water from the heater enters the Therm-O-Mix® WWM which automatically proportions the two flows into OSHA-approved tepid water which is then delivered to the fixtures.
Unlike instantaneous heaters, the ESS Water Heater will be unaffected by a loss of power.
The industrial-grade water heater has a heavy-duty carbon steel tank with an internal cement lining and external foam insulation to minimize stand-by heat loss. The Therm-O-Mix® WWM functions completely mechanically with no need for a source of electricity. Even if the lights go out, the ESS Water Heater packaged system will continue to provide tepid water and ensure worker safety.
Should you have any questions about this product or application, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of product experts.
Legionnaires’ disease is arguably the hottest topic in the plumbing industry today.
First identified after an outbreak in 1976, this potentially fatal form of pneumonia is contracted by aspirating Legionella bacteria and presents with coughing, shortness of breath, fever, and pain.
Since its initial discovery, the bacteria has been found to be pervasive in large-scale water systems, leading offices, hospitals, hotels, and other sizeable buildings to double down on their sanitization, identification, and prevention efforts.
Legionella bacteria can be found in many domestic hot and cold water systems in trace amounts but does not present a health concern until it colonizes, and the bacteria are atomized and aspirated.
In warm, stagnant water, the bacteria can grow and multiply to high concentrations, which is when it becomes dangerous.
Organizations differ on the specific temperature at which the bacteria will grow, but the most common range stated for Legionella bacteria survival is 68°-122°F (20°-50°C). The bacteria are dormant below 68° (20° C) and does not survive above 140° (60° C).
The key to preventing disease Legionnaires’ disease is to make sure that building owners and managers follow a water management program. Unfortunately, there is no one guideline to follow on how to reduce the risk of Legionella growth and spread. Go to any ASPE meeting and ask the members what the best way is to prevent Legionella and you are likely to get as many different answers as there are attendees.
Organizations that mandate domestic hot water systems design guidelines and recommendations are similarly scattered and contradictory in their requirements, torn between the need for energy conservation and Legionella prevention.
ASHRAE, which touts energy conservation practices, suggests that temperature maintenance systems should be automatically switched off “during extended periods when hot water is not required,” whereas OSHA states that in the interest of Legionella prevention, DHWS should be excluded from energy conservation measures and run continuously.
The Uniform Plumbing Code and International Plumbing Code set minimum guidelines for plumbing system and component safety, but do not provide concrete “how to” documents and checklists for Legionella prevention.
The Center for Disease Control simply suggests periodically culturing potable water samples to test for bacteria growth.
Which codes and guidelines dictate your DHWS design typically falls to your local jurisdictions and personal or corporate preferences. However, it still leaves the question of just how can plumbing engineers best design their systems to prevent, or at the very least discourage Legionella bacteria from growing while still adhering to the necessary requirements so as not to find themselves on an inspector’s infraction list?
Q&A with ThermOmegaTech® about the new automatic DHWS balancing valve – CircuitSolver® Union Thermal Disinfection
Being “first” often sets the bar high. As one of the first manufacturers of a thermostatic balancing valve for domestic hot water recirculation systems, The ThermOmegaTech® commitment has not just been to set the bar but also to raise the bar. Since the introduction of its CircuitSolver® in 2012, the company has frequently added components, including ball valves, strainers, check valves, and ProPress ends, to meet customer demand.
In April 2018, the innovation continued with the launch of the CircuitSolver® Union Thermal Disinfection thermostatic balancing valve for domestic hot water systems. The union is integrated with the valve body, which has an optional integral check valve. A vital feature of the CircuitSolver® Union Thermal Disinfection is the new capability to automatically balance a domestic hot water system during a thermal disinfection procedure.
In the following Q&A with ThermOmegaTech®, Plumbing Engineer explores the new product’s features, including its ability to mitigate Legionella and other bacteriological problems.
PE: What makes CircuitSolver® Union Thermal Disinfection different from other valves on the market?
TOT: It has all-stainless steel construction for maximum corrosion resistance and durability. It is NSF61, and NSF372 certified — even though it seems that all components in a domestic hot water system (DHWS) should be certified and most plumbing codes and specifications say they must be, not all balancing valves are certified. The valve is completely automatic, thermostatically balancing the standard recirculation temperature and the high-temperature thermal disinfection cycle. No power, signal, or powered actuators are required, as in other balancing valves.
ThermOmegaTech® design is highly resistant to mineral buildup and the adverse effects of debris in the piping system. It is the only tamper-proof thermostatic balancing valve on the market. Other competitive devices are adjustable for several reasons: those manufacturers don’t manufacture their thermal actuators as ThermOmegaTech® does. They aren’t as flexible and offer all the setpoint variations we can, so their valve is adjustable, making it prone to tampering and/or being set to a temperature other than what the designer specified.
With this valve, the plumbing system designer specifies the desired temperature, and the valves are factory-set to that exact setting.
PE: What are the benefits or special features of the CircuitSolver® Union Thermal Disinfection specific to those designing and specifying thermostatic balancing valves for DHWS?
TOT: CircuitSolver® Union Thermal Disinfection brings the benefits of the standard CircuitSolver® into thermal disinfection applications. There is no manual balancing required. It can simply be installed once the system is turned on, and within minutes the building’s DHWS is balanced. Unlike manual balancing valves or fixed-flow devices, CircuitSolver® Union Thermal Disinfection will automatically go to full open when high-temperature water is being supplied, providing maximum flow for thermal disinfection processes.
New CircuitSolver® Union Assembly ProPress® combines CircuitSolver® balancing technology and Viega ProPress® ends.
ThermOmegaTech®, a world leader in the design and manufacture of self-actuating, thermostatic valve technology, adds the CircuitSolver® Union Assembly ProPress (CSUA-PP) to its distinguished line of products.
The CircuitSolver® is a domestic hot water system balancing valve that continuously and automatically adjusts the flow through each
branch of a water recirculation system to maintain the specified temperature at the end of each branch, regardless of fluctuations in demand. The CSUA-PP combines the CircuitSolver® technology professionals’ trust and Viega® ProPress ends for improved ease of installation.
Lauren Berenato, Commercial Plumbing Product Manager at ThermOmegaTech® says, “The CircuitSolver® product line is revolutionizing the plumbing industry by making domestic hot water system balancing automatic and continuous. The CSUA-PP’s Viega ProPress® ends makes it even easier for tradesmen to implement our technology into their systems, saving them time and labor costs.”
Each CSUA-PP incorporates Viega’s Smart Connect Technology. Identifiable by a small dot on each ProPress® end, it allows installers to easily identify un-pressed connections during installation. The CircuitSolver® Union Assembly ProPress is lead-free, resistant to corrosion, and all components are NSF 61 Certified. In addition, each and every CSUA-PP valve is leak tested prior to leaving the factory and comes equipped with long service life and a 3-year warranty.
To view the full article on Mechanical Hub click here.
ThermOmegaTech®, a world leader in the design and manufacture of self-actuating thermostatic valve technology, introduces the CircuitSolver® Sanitary Flush (CSUSF) Valve as the newest addition to their CircuitSolver® line. The CSUSF allows for higher-temperature water to flow through a domestic hot water system during the disinfection process to protect against Legionella growth in systems capable of high-temperature flushes.
Nick Tallos, Vice President of Engineering for ThermOmegaTech® says, “CircuitSolver® technology was already an innovative balancing method for domestic hot water systems. Now, with the addition of the Sanitary Flush, CircuitSolver® further stands out as a revolutionary technology with a myriad of applications. With its capability to protect against Legionella growth, the CircuitSolver® becomes an even easier and reliable balancing solution. It’s just another step in the right direction.”
The CircuitSolver® is a thermostatic, self-actuating balancing valve that continuously and automatically adjusts the flow through each branch of a domestic hot water recirculation system to maintain the specified temperature at the end of each branch, regardless of fluctuations in hot water demand.
It is a direct replacement for manual balancing valves and eliminates balancing labor and callbacks. The CSUSF valve uses two high-thrust actuators, a low-temperature actuator to maintain standard balancing temperature, and a high-temperature actuator to allow for high-temperature sanitary flushing of the system.
The CircuitSolver® Sanitary Flush Valve is tamper-proof and automatically balances any domestic hot water system at a set temperature, while still allowing higher water temperatures to enter for disinfection, preventing Legionella growth. It is the ideal solution for a maintenance-free balancing and high-temperature flush application. The CSUSF is lead-free, stainless steel, and corrosion-resistant. The CSUSF valve is NSF/ANSI 61 certified and comes equipped with long service life and a 3-year warranty.
The ThermOmegaTech® CircuitSolver® Sanitary Flush Valve is available for purchase through your local representative.
To view the full article on Mechanical Hub click here.
ThermOmegaTech®, a designer and manufacturer of self-actuating temperature control technology, introduces its newest valve in the CircuitSolver® line: the CircuitSolver® Sanitary Flush valve. This CircuitSolver® Sanitary Flush Valve allows for higher water temperatures to flow through the system during the disinfection process to protect against Legionella growth.
“The CircuitSolver® Sanitary Flush Valve (CSUSF) allows for protection against Legionella growth in systems capable of high-temperature flush disinfection processes,” says Nick Tallos, vice president of engineering with ThermOmegaTech®. “We saw a need, especially in hospitals and healthcare settings, for a sanitary flush valve and this technology provides a convenient and reliable solution.”
CircuitSolver® is a thermostatic self-actuating balancing valve that continuously adjusts the flow through each branch of a domestic hot water recirculation system to maintain the specified temperature at the end of the branches. The CSUSF valve uses two high thrust actuators to control the temperature and flow of water through a branch. A low-temperature actuator maintains standard balancing temperature, while a high-temperature actuator allows for high-temperature sanitary flushing of the system.
The CircuitSolver® Sanitary Flush valve is tamper-proof and is the ideal solution for a reliable and automatic high-temperature flush. It is a direct replacement for manual balancing valves and eliminates balancing labor and callbacks. The CSUSF valve is constructed of all stainless steel, is corrosion-resistant, and is pending NSF/ANSI 61 and NSF/ANSI 372 certifications. It also has a long service life and comes with a 3-year warranty.
ThermOmegaTech® will be introducing the valve at the Canadian Mechanical & Plumbing Exposition (CMPX) from March 21-23 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The product release is set for mid-April 2018.
For nearly a decade, CircuitSolver® has exceeded the standard for balancing domestic hot water systems. The thermostatic self-actuating balancing valve controls temperature and ensures hot water is delivered consistently to all fixtures without the need for manual balancing. The simple design combined with the unique technology of the valve has transformed the future of domestic hot water balancing.
To date, there are thousands of CircuitSolver® installed in buildings across the country with more being spec’d into projects every day. More and more contractors are realizing the convenience the valve creates by eliminating the need for time-consuming and expensive manual balancing labor and equipment.
ThermOmegaTech® interviewed a few contractors to hear about their experiences using CircuitSolver®. Below are the responses from three plumbing contractors: E.M. Duggan Inc, Pan-Pacific Mechanical, and Production Plus Plumbing Inc.
E.M. Duggan Inc. – Boston, Massachusetts
Overview of the project
Founded in 1891, E.M. Duggan Inc. is a full mechanical contractor specializing in commercial plumbing, HVAC and sprinkler systems in and around Boston, Massachusetts. Stephen Thompson, who has been working for E.M. Duggan for 30+ years, talks about the recently completed Avalon North Station high-rise apartments, right next to the home of the Boston Celtics, and the installation of CircuitSolver®.
Installation
This newly constructed 38-story luxury apartment building with 537 units used CircuitSolver® to balance its domestic hot water system. The system was broken into three zones of water — low, medium, and high — and required roughly 100 Circuit Solvers.
Results
The contractor was pleased with how quickly the system was balanced. It usually takes two to three days to balance a system manually, but by using CircuitSolver®, this process was done instantly. This translated into huge savings in terms of time and effort that is usually devoted to the balancing process. There was no scaling or gumming up of the system either, which is sometimes an issue when using manual valves. They experienced no problems or call backs.
When asked how CircuitSolver® compares to other balancing valves, Thompson says, “It’s hard to compare to since there really isn’t anything else like it on the market.”
Pan-Pacific Mechanical – Los Angeles, California
Overview of the project
For 60+ years, Pan-Pacific Mechanical has been a family-owned mechanical contractor in California. Richard Parker talks about the USC Village project at University Park Campus Los Angeles, and his experience with installing CircuitSolver®.
Installation
This construction project consisted of five buildings — five stories, at 750,000 square feet a piece. Each building required 110 Circuit Solvers totaling 600 valves for the whole project.
Results
Normally it takes a long time to balance a system. A project this size would take three or four plumbers per building at least two weeks to get the system perfectly balanced. With CircuitSolver®, the contractor was able to start up the system, and it was balanced automatically.
This saved them both time and money, plus made the whole process easier. They have had to make zero adjustments and haven’t had any clogging issues that can be a problem when using other valves. Since CircuitSolver® automatically adjusts to the changing water temperatures, the system doesn’t becomes unbalanced and hot water will be at the branch when you need it, so there won’t be any long wait times.
The CircuitSolver® line with an integrated union and optional built-in check valve as well as a complete assembly.
This product will also be NSF 61 certified. It also minimizes flow through the system by only allowing small amounts of water to pass through once the set point is reached, which reduces system wear and allows for a smaller circulator that won’t consume as much power.
ThermOmegaTech® is expanding its CircuitSolver® line to include an enhanced CircuitSolver® with an integrated union and optional built-in check valve as well as a complete assembly.
As is the case with the original CircuitSolver®, the CSU will also be NSF 61 certified.
The new products extend beyond the ThermOmegaTech® flagship thermostatic self-actuating balancing valve, the CircuitSolver®, which continuously maintains the end of each domestic hot water supply line in a recirculation system at the specified water temperature.
This simple in-line valve completely eliminates the need for time-consuming and expensive manual balancing labor and equipment. It also minimizes flow through the system by only allowing small amounts of water to pass through once the set point is reached, which reduces system wear and allows for a smaller circulator that won’t consume as much power.
The CSU and CSU Assembly include all the benefits of the Circuit Solver plus additional advantages not offered anywhere else.
For years, manual balancing valves have been the industry standard in regulating the flow of recirculating domestic hot water systems.
Particularly in large, populous commercial buildings, such as offices, hotels, and multi-dwelling housing, maintaining perfect hot water distribution was very challenging until Pennsylvania-based manufacturer ThermOmegaTech®, Inc. launched its self-operating temperature actuated CircuitSolver® thermal recirculation balancing valve and set a new standard.
“Even people who are very knowledgeable with years of experience in the industry are impressed with what CircuitSolver® can achieve,” shares Nick Tallos, vice president of engineering for ThermOmegaTech® and 40-year industry veteran. “They ask, ‘where was this 20 years ago,’ and call CircuitSolver a game-changing technology.”
However, ThermOmegaTech® is no stranger to game-changing products. Since the company was founded by the late Fred Pirkle in 1983, it has been solving temperature control problems all over the country and the world.
“I was working with Fred before he started ThermOmegaTech®,” recounts Tallos. “He was working as a sales representative for another company when he was offered a position in product development in Pennsylvania. A few years later, in the early 1980s, he decided to start his own company.”
Setting the standard early on, the ThermOmegaTech® first breakthrough product was the highly reliable, cost-effective freeze valve for the railroad industry. “The freeze protection valve has become the industry standard and almost every diesel-electric locomotive in the U.S. has our products,” reveals Tom Ruggierio, director of sales and marketing for ThermOmegaTech®. “We now have 98 percent of the market share for Class 1 locomotives in North America.”
“Our freeze protection valve is critical because a locomotive has 300 to 500 gallons of coolant circulating through to keep the engine temperature down, but antifreeze is not compatible with the diesel engine technology,” adds Tallos. “If the coolant freezes it means a major risk to the engine, not to mention huge costs due to lost operating time.”
The freeze valve is still one of ThermOmegaTech®’s most important products, but Tallos says the company has grown to fit the needs of numerous other industries and applications. “We took the freeze-valve technology and started applying it to other problems our customers in the petrochemical and industrial arenas had,” he explains. “If we saw an opportunity to make a device to solve their problem, we did, and steadily they’ve become standard products.”
From locomotives to commercial dishwashers, ThermOmegaTech® technology can be found in almost every corner of industry. ThermOmegaTech has developed a wide range of valves and systems for the industrial market, including valves for scald protection, steam traps, ambient sensing, surface sensing and more. The company also has mixing valves for water and steam-water applications, which have been incorporated into wash down stations for hot water wash down and instantaneous tepid water heaters.
The most recent generation of ThermOmegaTech®’s game changing technology is the CircuitSolver® thermal recirculation balancing valve and its ability to regulate and cut costs in domestic hot water systems. “The CircuitSolver® is just an extension of the self-operated valve technology we’ve been working on for 30 years; we’re just adopting it to other arenas,” explains Tallos.
One of the major headaches for engineers and contractors in today’s complicated construction projects is properly balancing multi-loop systems.
Getting these systems properly balanced initially and having them stay balanced over the life of the building has, until now, been nearly an impossible job.
Furthermore, with today’s emphasis on more efficient building design and better operation and management, many practices of the past are no longer adequate or acceptable. No process or system can be ignored when looking for improvements. Even the seemingly simple task of supplying domestic hot water to all areas of a building requires another look to ensure that the most current and efficient methods are being employed.
In this article, we are going to take a look at DHWS, how balancing multi-loop systems works, and what some of the newest trends and technologies have to offer.
DHWS are designed to keep the hot water supply at the desired target temperature and to minimize wait times and the wasting of water at the fixtures waiting for the hot water to arrive.
Note: The correct hot water design temperatures are a separate subject as to scalding versus Legionella control and are not a part of this article.
In order to have hot water at all locations, the circulator pump must send water through the system fast enough to overcome any heat loss in the circulating piping system. To ensure this target is maintained, the engineer selects the pump and piping so that the flow rate through the system is high enough to maintain the necessary temperature, but not so high as to cause excessive noise and potential pipe erosion due to excessive velocity in the piping.
Furthermore, the engineer must remember that the temperature drop across the system is dependent on the quantity of water circulated.
See the ASPE Domestic Water Heating Design Manual for further data.
Many buildings require multiple branches off the hot water supply line. Water flows to the path of least resistance. Hot water use is hyper-dynamic, so the path of least resistance constantly changes. Because flow rates often have to be set much higher than “optimum,” manual balancing valves or constant flow balancing valves cannot effectively resolve these issues.
By installing the self-operating CircuitSolver®, a thermostatic balancing valve at the end of each hot water supply branch before it connects back into the return, you are assured of having the right water temperature at all times. This allows for the right temperature of hot water to be made available at any hot water fixture in a building, regardless of the time of day.
For more than 30 years, ThermOmegaTech® has been building freeze protection valves for Class 1 locomotives. Presently, the company has over 98 percent market share for Class 1 locomotives in North America. All of the ThermOmegaTech® products, including CircuitSolver®, use the same technology that was developed for the railroad industry. The company has branched out with numerous products supporting a number of industries.
Plumbing Engineer learned more about CircuitSolver® and some of the questions that ThermOmegaTech® frequently hears about the offering.
Plumbing Engineer: What was the genesis of CircuitSolver® and its design?
ThermOmegaTech®: It’s not an unusual source for new ideas, but a customer came to us with a problem because they saw we make the types of valves or devices that might help his application. ThermOmegaTech® was already manufacturing an inline, self-operating, thermostatic valve that closes on temperature rise, so we showed the customer this valve.
The customer (in this case a commercial plumbing systems expert) asked if this valve could be made to open at 110°F and close at 120°F, for example. We already had such a valve, but the discussion progressed further and with some development work the valve was simplified, made more compact, optimized for recirculating domestic hot water systems; and thus was born CircuitSolver®.
The Energy Efficient Buildings (EEB) Hub recently welcomed a new demonstration unit to its Industry Partner Gallery, as Warminster-based ThermOmegaTech® introduced its latest EEB-related product, CircuitSolver® self-actuating thermostatic recirculation valves.
In replacing the display by FARO Technologies, which completed its demonstration run in July, ThermOmegaTech® is the latest area business to occupy the Gallery with a product for the commercial building Advanced Energy Retrofit (AER) market.
ThermOmegaTech® specializes in the design and manufacture of self-actualizing temperature control valves. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors, as well as architectural firms, rely on CircuitSolver® valves and similar ThermOmegaTech® products to dramatically reduce the expense and energy required to supply hot water throughout large residential, industrial, and other buildings.
“CircuitSolver® valves deliver hot water instantly, eliminating the need to purchase and power oversized recirculating pumps,” says ThermOmegaTech® Chris Ashworth. “We offer significant electrical savings by virtue of our design—an application that required a five-horsepower pump before CircuitSolver® may need less than one horsepower with CircuitSolver® valves. The smaller pump is far less expensive to buy, and the energy savings can be on the order of hundreds of watts per hour.”
The product also represents dramatic labor savings. While traditional water systems might require a crew of workers to properly balance the temperature for a high-rise building, CircuitSolver® valves automate the entire process.
“You used to have a series of manual balancing valves that required a lot of fine adjustment,” Ashworth adds. “They would turn the system on, see how it worked, and radio to workers on other floors to gauge their temperature. Unfortunately, once you get it set for the empty building, everything is going to change once you get people in it. Unless you have someone there opening and closing valves around the clock, you won’t have an optimal system. CircuitSolver® valves optimize those water flow rates to maximize efficiency.”
When asked about the opportunity to exhibit in the Industry Partner Gallery, Ashworth says it’s a way to raise awareness for CircuitSolver® valves as a supremely cost-effective upgrade option.
“I’m excited for those contemplating building retrofits to see there is a way to significantly reduce utility bills without having to spend a whole lot of money. A lot of green projects have high costs of entry, and you may not see a return for a number of years. With CircuitSolver® valves, it’s as fast as 3-4 months.”
“ThermOmegaTech® has developed a product that not only preserves a limited resource, but they did it in a way that exemplifies the kind of innovative thinking we foster here at DVIRC and through the EEB Hub,” says Barry Miller, DVIRC’s President & COO. “We’re proud to have been active with ThermOmegaTech® through a host of Lean, continuous improvement, and marketing projects. CircuitSolver® valves are proof that their spirit of creative problem solving is alive and well.”
The Industry Partner Gallery can be found on the third floor of the Hub’s temporary headquarters in Building 101 at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. The program will accompany the EEB Hub when it moves to its new home, Building 661, in 2014, which will include a permanent display space to showcase building retrofit technologies such as CircuitSolver® valves.
Rob Crossett, DVIRC’s Business Development Manager, coordinates the Regional Supplier Program for the Gallery. These suppliers’ displays rotate at 2-3 month intervals and can be seen together with those of the Hub Industry partners: Lutron Electronics, Inc., United Technologies Research Center, PPG Industries, and Bayer MaterialScience, which manages the Gallery display area. The displays are open for viewing to all visitors and participants in EEB Hub activities.
About ThermOmegaTech®
ThermOmegaTech®, Inc. was established in 1983 to produce a proprietary freeze valve for the railroad industry. This valve is now the industry standard for North American railroads, and ThermOmegaTech® has applied that same technology to develop valves and systems for the industrial market. These include valves for freeze protection, scald protection, steam traps, ambient sensing, and surface sensing, as well as many other applications. ThermOmegaTech, Inc. is a privately held organization whose products are distributed and used worldwide. CircuitSolver® is a trademark of ThermOmegaTech®, Inc.
About the EEB Hub
The Energy Efficient Buildings Hub (EEB Hub) was established in by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on February 1, 2011 with a mission of improving energy efficiency in buildings—literally re-energizing them for the future—from its headquarters in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard, one of the nation’s largest and most dynamic redevelopment opportunities.
Federal funding for the EEB Hub’s first five years of operation comes primarily from the DOE, with additional contributions from the National Institute of Standards and Technology Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST/MEP), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), and the Small Business Administration (SBA).
About DVIRC
The Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC) is a private, non-profit economic development business consulting firm established in 1988 to serve the needs of the 4,500 small and mid-sized manufacturers in southeastern Philadelphia. The organization’s primary focus is to grow the value of our clients’ businesses through consulting services, training and education, and executive network groups. Our vision is to establish the region as an internationally recognized leader in manufacturing competitiveness. We believe growing business value improves the standard of living and quality of life for those that live and/or work in the region. DVIRC is a founding partner of the EEB Hub and a member of the executive board.
DVIRC is one of seven affiliates of the Industrial Resource Center (IRC) Network in Pennsylvania. DVIRC is funded in part by the NIST/Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community and Economic Development. The collective role of DVIRC and its sister organization New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) is to connect Greater Philadelphia’s manufacturers to projects and opportunities being developed at the EEB Hub, and to grow business value and spur job creation.
The stainless-steel valve has received NSF/ANSI 61 and California Lead Plumbing Law (AB1953) certifications from IAPMO. This is the first of its kind for a self-actuating temperature control valve used for balancing domestic hot water systems. It eliminates the need for oversized recirculating pumps, minimizes heat loss by reducing fluctuations in average temperature and flow rate and lowers flow in hot water return lines.
Certification Believed to be First for a Self-Actuating Temperature Control Valve for Domestic Hot Water Systems
WARMINSTER, PA. – ThermOmegaTech, Inc. the global leader in the design and manufacture of self-actuating temperature control valves, announced today that its new CircuitSolver valve for domestic hot water systems has received NSF/ANSI 61 certification and California Lead Plumbing Law (AB1953) certification from the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), an independent laboratory.
The certification is believed to be the first of its kind for a self-actuating temperature control valve used for balancing domestic hot water systems.
“The NSF/ANSI 61 certification further cements our belief that the CircuitSolver is an elite product that can solve long-standing issues related to hot water flow,” said ThermOmegaTech, Inc. President and CEO James Logue, Jr. “This valve can change the way engineers solve domestic hot water system and is a clear upgrade over manual balancing valves.”
Water flows to the path of least resistance, and many buildings require multiple branches off the hot water supply line. Since hot water use is dynamic, the path of least resistance is constantly changing and manual balancing valves cannot efficiently resolve these issues. CircuitSolver fixes this problem when installed on the end of each supply branch. Additionally, it eliminates the need for oversized recirculating pumps, minimizes heat-loss by reducing fluctuations in average temperature and flow rate and lowers flow in hot water return lines, minimizing erosion-corrosion problems caused by excessive velocity. The result is a dramatic reduction in water waste, energy savings and greatly improves comfort and satisfaction from all users of the domestic hot water system.
When entering water temperature is below CircuitSolver’s set point, the thermal actuator will begin to open the valve to establish a flow rate that will achieve set point. If the water temperature exceeds the set point, the valve will begin to throttle back to find the current equilibrium point. Continuously operating at the optimum temperature minimizes system heat-loss thereby saving energy. This constant, automatic response to water temperature enables each hot water branch to quickly and consistently deliver the right temperature of hot water to each connected fixture. The valve is constructed of all stainless steel.
CircuitSolver is now available for sale. More information is available at www.CircuitSolver.com. Appointments with engineers from ThermOmegaTech, Inc. can be made through the Web site to determine if CircuitSolver is the right solution for any hot water distribution challenge.
About ThermOmegaTech, Inc.
Founded in 1983, ThermOmegaTech, Inc. is the global leader in the design and manufacturing of the most advanced, reliable, and compact self-actuated valves for temperature control. The company holds over 25 patents for the design and manufacturing of valves for freeze control, scald protection, and tepid water mixing in the rail, manufacturing, processing, health care, hospitality, and building industries, to name a few. All ThermOmegaTech products are made in the United States of America. More details are available at www.ThermOmegaTech.com.
The facts are frightening – especially since the problem can be avoided.
Consider this: As many as one in 10 patients hospitalized in the U.S. contracts an infection, according to the Wall Street Journal. That means nearly 2 million patients annually are infected by bacterium or other agents.
The end result?
The cost is nearly 100,000 deaths and $6.5 billion in overall losses.
Hand washing is a long-standing means of fighting such infections. Doctors, nurses, and other hospital employees, as well as patients and guests, constantly wash their hands typically using hot water to do so.
The supply of hot water — and the time in which it is delivered – makes an efficiently designed domestic hot water system paramount in a hospital. And that makes thermostatically controlled hot water flow control valves just what the doctors ordered. Unfortunately, these valves aren’t used as often as they should.
Normally, a domestic hot water system is manually balanced. Enough hot water flows at a rate to ensure that when a faucet is turned on, heated water is quickly delivered at a specified temperature set point – often 120 degrees Fahrenheit. To achieve this, the system is balanced with manually operated valves opened to produce the desired flow rate.
With multiple endpoints at sinks and showers, balancing usually requires two or more plumbing contractors. They must spend significant amounts of time between the hot water supply and the loop that services a particular bank of sinks or other fixtures, tweaking flow rates until the desired temperature is delivered.
A better method of achieving hot water balancing while using a fraction of the labor is to use a thermostatically controlled valve that opens and closes mechanically based on a temperature set point. For a hospital, this design has many advantages.
One major advantage is the cost reduction realized from the reduced flow. Using a thermostatically controlled valve only requires hot water flow when the temperature drops — not the constant flow that a manually balanced system needs.
WARMINSTER, PA – ThermOmegaTech, Inc., the global leader in the design and manufacture of self-actuating temperature control valves, has announced that its CircuitSolver valve for domestic hot water systems is now approved by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters for installation in Massachusetts.
“We are excited that CircuitSolver has been approved for sale and installation in Massachusetts,” said James Logue Jr., President and CEO of ThermOmegaTech. “Massachusetts has a strict policy when it comes to plumbing systems. This approval further cements CircuitSolver as the best solution for domestic hot water delivery problems.”
Water flows to the path of least resistance and many buildings require multiple branches off the hot water supply line. Since hot water use is dynamic, the path of least resistance is constantly changing and manual balancing valves cannot properly resolve these issues. CircuitSolver fixes this problem when installed at the end of each supply branch.
Additionally, it eliminates the need for oversized recirculating pumps, minimizes heat loss by reducing fluctuations in average temperature and flow rate, and lowers flow in hot water return lines minimizing erosion-corrosion problems caused by excessive velocity. The result is a dramatic reduction in water waste, energy savings, and greatly improved comfort and satisfaction from all users of the domestic hot water system.
When entering water temperature is below CircuitSolver’s set point, the thermal actuator will begin to open the valve to establish a flow rate that will achieve set point. If the water temperature exceeds the set point, the valve will begin to throttle backflow as required. Continuously operating at the optimum temperature minimizes system heat loss thereby saving water and energy. This constant, automatic response to water temperature enables each hot water branch to quickly and consistently deliver the right temperature of hot water to each connected fixture. The valve, which is constructed of all stainless steel, complies with California AB1953, and meets NSF-61 standards.
CircuitSolver is currently available for sale. More information is available at www.CircuitSolver.com. Appointments for a live discussion with engineers from ThermOmegaTech can also be made through the website to determine if CircuitSolver is the right solution for any hot water distribution challenge.
ThermOmegaTech has over two decades of experience in the design and manufacture of valves for freeze and scald protection, mixing and diverting, steam traps, ambient temperature control, surface sensing applications, and custom-designed valves. The company’s valves protect billions of dollars of rail equipment each year, and can be found in hotels and condominiums, commercial dishwashers, boiler systems, commercial laundries, safety showers and eyewash stations, and more. ThermOmegaTech’s valves are all environmentally friendly, and no outside power source is needed to activate them.
About ThermOmegaTech, Inc.
Founded in 1983, ThermOmegaTech is the global leader in the design and manufacturing of the most advanced, reliable, and compact self-actuated valves for temperature control. The company holds over 25 patents for the design and manufacturing of valves for freeze control, scald protection, and tepid water mixing in the rail, manufacturing, processing, healthcare, hospitality, and building industries, to name a few. All ThermOmegaTech products are made in the United States of America. More details are available at www.ThermOmegaTech.com.
I agree to let this website use cookies to improve my experience. For more information on the cookies we use see our privacy policy.AcceptPrivacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
The CircuitSolver® is a thermostatic, self-actuating balancing valve that continuously and automatically adjusts the flow through each branch of a domestic hot water recirculation system to maintain the specified temperature at the end of each branch, regardless of fluctuations in hot water demand. 
Pan-Pacific Mechanical – Los Angeles, California
The new products extend beyond the ThermOmegaTech® flagship thermostatic self-actuating balancing valve, the CircuitSolver®, which continuously maintains the end of each domestic hot water supply line in a recirculation system at the specified water temperature. 