To get hot water faster, you need warm water waiting in the pipes before you turn on the tap. If you have a Navien tankless water heater, a small valve called NaviCirc handles this. It works with your existing plumbing, so you don’t need new piping or to open walls.

You probably know the morning routine. Someone starts the shower and stands there with a hand under the water. Someone else needs the sink. The clock keeps moving, and the water is still cold.

Here’s why the wait happens, why a new tankless heater doesn’t always fix it, and what does.

Why does it take so long to get hot water?

It takes a while because the water sitting in your pipes has cooled off. When you turn on the tap, that cold water has to flush out before hot water arrives. The farther the faucet is from your water heater, the longer you wait.

That’s why the upstairs shower or the bathroom at the far end of the house is usually the worst. It’s not a broken water heater. It’s distance.

All that waiting also means clean water goes straight down the drain every morning.

Isn’t a tankless water heater supposed to give you instant hot water?

No. A tankless water heater gives you endless hot water, not instant hot water. It heats water as it flows through, so you won’t run out halfway through a shower. But that hot water still has to travel through the pipes to reach you.

This is one of the most common questions our plumbers hear after a tankless install. People expect hot water the second they turn the handle. Then they wonder why it still takes a minute.

Here’s what’s happening. Navien says its tankless units take roughly 5 to 10 seconds to heat water and send it out. After that, the water still has to push the cold water out of the pipes. On a long pipe run, that’s where most of the wait comes from.

How does NaviCirc get hot water to the faucet faster?

NaviCirc is a hot water recirculation valve that keeps warm water close to your faucets. You install it under the sink farthest from your water heater. It links the hot and cold lines so that the cold line can carry cooled water back.

Here’s how it works with a Navien NPE-A2:

  1. The pump built into the water heater pushes water through your hot line.
  2. Cooled-off water reaches the NaviCirc valve and crosses into the cold line.
  3. That water flows back to the water heater to be reheated.
  4. Once the water at the valve warms up, the valve closes, and the cycle stops.

You can schedule it around your busiest times, like weekday mornings. Navien’s HotButton accessory also lets you start it on demand with a button press.

The valve is about the size of your hand and comes with a 3-year Navien warranty.

Are there any downsides to NaviCirc?

There are a few, and you should know them before you decide.

Your cold tap can run lukewarm. Since the cold line doubles as the return, the first few seconds of cold water may be warm. You’ll notice it most at the sink where the valve sits.

The first water out is warm, not hot. The valve shuts at about 95°F, so fully hot water follows a moment later. That’s still a much shorter wait than flushing a full pipe run.

It uses some extra energy. Keeping the lines warm means the heater fires more often, and the pump draws a little electricity. A schedule built around your household’s routine keeps that use low.

What if you have a regular tank water heater?

You still have options to get hot water faster. Many tank water heaters can add a recirculation pump. If your tank is fairly new, that’s often the simplest fix.

If your tank is getting older, plan ahead. Adding a pump now involves investing in a system you may replace soon. A Navien NPE-A2 tankless has a built-in recirculation pump. Pair it with NaviCirc, and you replace the aging tank and fix the wait in one project.

A third option is a dedicated return line, which is a separate pipe that loops hot water back to the heater. It’s common in new builds and major remodels. In an existing home, it usually means opening walls and floors.

One more thing worth checking before any upgrade: hard water. Many Central Illinois homes have it, and it builds scale inside tankless heaters. A water test shows whether a softener belongs in the plan.

Hot water FAQ

Is NaviCirc worth it?
It’s worth it if waiting on hot water is a daily frustration and your home has no return line. It matters most when a busy bathroom sits far from the water heater. If your faucets already heat up quickly, you won’t notice much difference.

Can I add NaviCirc to my existing Navien water heater?
Usually, yes. An NPE-A2 uses the pump already built into the unit. Several other Navien models work with NaviCirc too, but they need an external pump added.

Can a tankless water heater run out of hot water?
It won’t run out like a tank, but it does have a flow limit. If you run too many showers and appliances at once, the water can cool. Sizing the unit to your household prevents that.

Can NaviCirc go in a crawlspace or outside?
No. Navien rates it for indoor use only, and it has to be mounted horizontally. Most installs go in the cabinet under the farthest accessible sink.

Ready to stop waiting on hot water?

Every home is plumbed a little differently, so the right fix depends on yours. C-U Trade Services installs tankless water heaters and NaviCirc recirculation for homes in Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, and Monticello.

We’ll review your layout, current water heater, and water quality. Then we’ll tell you whether NaviCirc makes sense or if something else will work better.