hot water circulating pump not working?

[TrapperL]

If the water heater is 25 feet from the kitchen sink and you ran it for 20 minutes with zero hot water, you have more problems than you might know. There's a little less than a quart of water in 25 feet of 1/2" Pex. It shouldn't take but maybe 15-20 seconds to get hot water from the tank. You do not need any recirculating system with the tank this close. Sounds like the house is plumbed wrong. You'll need to get a plumber that has a clue and you won't find him on Craigslist or Angieslist. You need a pro for this one.

Considering Pex isn't all that old, you may be wanting to get the builder involved if there is any warranty left on the house. In Texas, any builder defect, like a house that has crossed over plumbing, is warrantable in perpetuity. You may have the same rights in your state.

[Gorath]

This may sound dumb, but is the pump backwards? I imagine that they only pump in one direction.

[PNWGuy]

the check valve had been replaced and we now get instant hot water on both sides of the house just fine. . Still pissed the lines weren't insulated, but that is a separate issue.

[thecoalman]

If they were newly installed for that project then certainly, probably not huge deal in your area until you introduce the pump. Personally I'd never put any domestic hot water lines in any house without insulation.