ThermoDrain

ThermoDrain is manufactured by Ecoinnovation Technologies, a company focused on drain water heat recovery systems for residential and light commercial plumbing. Rather than producing a broad catalog of plumbing hardware, Ecoinnovation built ThermoDrain around a single mechanical principle: capturing heat from water headed down the drain before it disappears into the waste line.

Product Lines

A ThermoDrain unit consists of copper supply tubing tightly coiled around a vertical section of copper drainpipe, available in multiple diameters and lengths to fit different vertical drain runs. SupplyHouse carries models with varying efficiency ratings and connection options, including versions with pre-installed PEX fittings and drain couplings for faster rough-in.

Why Contractors Specify ThermoDrain

Showers and other fixtures with simultaneous hot water draw and drain flow waste a significant amount of heat down the drain, and a ThermoDrain unit recovers a portion of that heat to preheat incoming cold water before it reaches the water heater. Because the unit has no moving parts and requires no electrical connection, plumbers can install it as a one-time addition to a vertical drain stack without introducing a new maintenance item or failure point. The design also works across copper, PEX, ABS, and cast iron drain and supply configurations, so a single product line covers most retrofit and new-construction scenarios.

How to Choose ThermoDrain Products

Sizing starts with the available straight vertical run of drain pipe, since longer coil lengths capture more heat but need more vertical clearance to install. Diameter must match the existing drain pipe, commonly 3 inch or 4 inch, and the efficiency rating listed for each model reflects how much of the available heat that specific length and diameter combination recovers. Units with pre-installed PEX fittings suit jobs already running PEX supply lines, while drain-coupling-only versions fit jobs where the installer is sweating copper or solvent-welding plastic connections directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a ThermoDrain unit recover heat?

Cold supply water flows through copper tubing coiled around a vertical drain pipe, picking up heat from warm water draining past it on the inside of the pipe, which preheats that supply water before it reaches the water heater.

Does a ThermoDrain unit need electrical power?

No, the system is entirely passive, using only the temperature difference between drain water and incoming supply water, so there is no electrical connection or moving part to maintain.

What drain pipe sizes work with ThermoDrain?

Models are available to match common vertical drain diameters, including 3 inch and 4 inch, and the unit must be sized to the actual pipe diameter on site.

Does ThermoDrain work with PEX supply lines?

Yes, certain models come with PEX fittings pre-installed on the supply connections, simplifying installation on jobs already plumbed with PEX.

What fixtures benefit most from a ThermoDrain installation?

Fixtures with simultaneous hot water draw and drain flow, such as showers, produce the largest heat recovery benefit, since hot drain water and cold supply water pass through the unit at the same time.