QU'EST-CE QUE LA RÉCUPÉRATION DE CHALEUR DES EAUX D'ÉVACUATION ?
Comment fonctionne la récupération de chaleur des eaux usées résidentielles ? Que peut-il faire pour vous?
US Residential Energy Recovery • High-Efficiency Passive Heat Exchange
Up to 3x more hot water for showering.
Cut your water heating bills by up to 40%.
Heating domestic hot water is typically the second-largest utility cost in your home. Every time someone showers, dollars worth of energy pour directly down the drain. The ThermoDrain® TDX Series captures waste heat from falling shower drainage and recycles it instantly back into your water supply. Enjoy up to 3 times more hot water for back-to-back showers, lower monthly utility bills, and qualify your project for up to $5,000 in federal IRA tax credits without sizing up your water heater.
3x More
Continuous shower hot water capacity
~$185 USD
Starting price (Compact TDX model)
≤ 2.5 psi
Pressure drop • Exceeds IECC 3.0 psi code limit
Sec. 45L / 179D
Eligible for federal IRA tax credits
US Plumbing Architecture • IECC R403.5.4 / ANSI RESNET 301
Flexible Potable Piping: Cold to Shower & Equal Flow Routing
Under US model energy codes and ANSI/RESNET 301 HERS rating standards, ThermoDrain® supports three approved installation schematics. Preheating the cold feed to your shower mixing valve slashes hot water draw at the fixture by up to 50%:
1. Equal Flow (Dual-Feed)
Max Efficiency
Preheats BOTH Water Heater & Shower Cold Line
Preheated water splits to feed both the cold inlet of the water heater and the cold port of the shower mixing valve.
- Highest CSA B55.1 Rating: Equalizes mass flow ($ṁ_{\text{drain}} \approx ṁ_{\text{potable}}$), boosting certified heat recovery by 5% to 8%.
- HERS & Tax Credits: Unlocks maximum ERI score drops for IRA Section 45L ($5,000/door) and ENERGY STAR v3.2.
- Best For: New home construction and open-wall remodels where running a dedicated PEX riser is straightforward.
2. Shower Cold Only
Fixture Isolation
Preheats ONLY the Cold Feed to Shower Valve
Preheated water routes directly into the cold port of the shower mixing valve; the water heater remains connected to normal street cold.
- Valve Modulation Effect: The bather turns the valve handle toward "cold" to blend the 75°F–80°F preheated water, slashing hot water draw by up to 50%.
- ASSE 1016 Safe: Fully compatible with modern pressure-balanced and thermostatic anti-scald shower cartridges.
- Best For: Installations located adjacent to dedicated bathroom risers where running pipe back to the mechanical room is impractical.
3. Water Heater Only
Fastest Install
Preheats ONLY the Tank / Tankless Inlet
Preheated water routes exclusively into the water heater; shower valve cold ports remain on standard unheated municipal water.
- Stretches Tank Capacity: Incoming water is pre-warmed, giving a standard 50-gal tank the effective output of a commercial system.
- Zero Drywall Work: 100% of piping is contained inside the mechanical room or basement ceiling near the water heater.
- Best For: Fast residential retrofits, rental upgrades, and finished basements.
How It Works: Clean, Simple Physics
No pumps, no motors, and zero computer chips. Just natural thermal transfer and zero maintenance.
Step 1: The Falling Film
Water Hugs the Pipe
When warm shower water (~100°F) drains down a vertical pipe, it doesn't fall down the center. Surface tension forces it outward to cling to the inner copper wall in a thin, rapidly swirling sleeve.
Step 2: Instant Transfer
Heat Moves Outward
Cold municipal water (40°F–55°F) circulating upward through the tightly wrapped outer copper coils instantly absorbs the heat through the highly conductive copper wall.
Step 3: Huge Savings
Preheated Intake
Cold water is pre-warmed to 70°F–80°F before entering the water heater or shower valve. Your water heater uses a fraction of the electricity or gas, delivering endless hot water.
🛡️
100% Drinking Water Safety: Double-Wall Vented Protection
Can drain water ever contaminate your drinking water? An absolute, physical NO.Safety is engineered directly into every unit through patented True Double-Wall Vented Technology, certified under CSA B55.1 / CSA B55.2 and compliant with International Plumbing Code (IPC) Section 608.17.2:
Two Independent Metal Walls
The drain core has its own heavy-gauge copper wall, and the clean water coil has its own completely separate copper wall. They never share a single boundary.
Physical Open-Air Vent Gap
In the impossible event that one wall developed a leak after decades of service, water drips harmlessly out of the external visible vent onto the floor rather than mixing into your clean tap water.
Model Code Certified
Fully approved under the International Residential Code (IRC N1103.5.4), International Energy Conservation Code (IECC R403.5.4), and IPC across all 50 states.
Choose the Right ThermoDrain for Your Home
Pricing in US Dollars (USD$)Match your vertical pipe height in the basement or mechanical space. The compact 24-inch model delivers the absolute fastest return on investment in residential green building:
| Feature |
TDX3240B (Compact 24") ★ Fastest ROI / Best Value |
TDX3350 (Builder Pro 35") Meets WSEC 42% Threshold |
TDX3615 (Net-Zero Pro 61.5") Maximum Heat Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx. Equipment Cost | ~$185 USD | ~$325 USD | ~$525 USD |
| Tested Heat Recovery (CSA B55.1) | 33.59% | 42.10% | 55.04% |
| Cost Per 1% Heat Recovery | ~$5.50 USD (Lowest) | ~$7.70 USD | ~$9.50 USD |
| Estimated Payback Period | 1.5 to 2.5 Years | 2.5 to 3.5 Years | 3.5 to 5.0 Years |
| Required Vertical Clearance | 28 inches min. (71 cm) | 39 inches min. (99 cm) | 66 inches min. (168 cm) |
| Drain Connections | Direct Solvent Weld (PVC/ABS) | Direct Solvent Weld (PVC/ABS) | Direct Solvent Weld (PVC/ABS) |
| Potable Connections | Factory 3/4" PEX Crimp (ASTM F1807) | Factory 3/4" PEX Crimp (ASTM F1807) | Factory 3/4" PEX Crimp (ASTM F1807) |
| Maintenance & Moving Parts | ZERO (Completely Passive) | ZERO (Completely Passive) | ZERO (Completely Passive) |
*Note: Have a 4-inch vertical drainage stack (common in multi-level luxury homes or multi-family buildings)? The 4" diameter ThermoDrain TD442 (4" × 42") delivers 46.20% efficiency using heavy-duty shielded mechanical couplings.
Field Engineering Documentation • Manufacturer Guides
Download Printable Cut Sheets & Submittal Manuals (PDF)
Job-site-ready technical manuals including rough-in dimensional drawings, code compliance certifications, and step-by-step mechanical procedures.
TDX Series Manual
Residential
Instruction manual for ThermoDrain TDX Series units with factory-integrated direct solvent-weld PVC/ABS sleeves and pre-assembled 3/4" PEX crimp fittings.
TDH & Commercial TD Manual
Commercial / Multi-Family
Technical guide for ThermoDrain TDH (Horizontal) and TD Series (3" and 4" Commercial Cores) utilizing shielded No-Hub mechanical couplings and rigid sweat/threaded connections.
Straightforward Installation (Under 60 Minutes)
Any licensed plumber or capable DIYer can install a ThermoDrain TDX unit using standard plumbing cement and PEX tools.
1. Check Vertical Clearance
Locate the vertical drain pipe carrying your shower water in the basement. Verify available straight pipe height to choose your model (28 inches minimum for the TDX3240B).
2. Cut & Solvent Weld
Cut out a matching segment of existing PVC or ABS pipe. The TDX model's integrated plastic sleeves glue directly into the stack using standard plumbing cement.
3. Hook Up Fresh Water
Connect your incoming cold main to the bottom 3/4" factory PEX fitting and route the preheated top line to your water heater, shower cold line, or both. Done for decades!