check valve or not to check?

[faded1004]

not sure how many people use them, but i have been hearing alot of questionable things about check valves, and here is my question...

if check valves are destined to leak after a few months, why not just put in a siphon break? what are your opinions?

i got a check valve, but why put it in if i have to take it out? was thinking about putting a hole in the return very close to the top under the water line, and let it just break siphon when it goes below that line...

dart pump with 1.5" piping to the display... i am sure a very small hole will break siphon?

let me know all your opinions...

[Konadog]

I use a 1 1/2 inch check valve on my Amp Master along with siphon breaks. The check valve has been in for over a year and has yet to fail, but I don't rely on it 100%.

[faded1004]

yea, i guess i can run both, i already bought a clear double union one, so might as well put it in with siphon...

hey kona, how big are your siphon breaks? how many? did you just drill it? tell me more! so interested...

[Scissorhand]

I'm just regurgitating info here based on what I've read... but many have said that check valve eventually fails. So, I've plumbed my system without any check valve, just leave the water in the sump at the level where if main pump goes off, water from main tank won't overflow.

Tank leaks are enough to make me lose a few hairs... this preventive measure is just one less variable to worry about IMO.

[tikalize]

A well thought out sump will always hold enough water in case of power outage with out overflowing. I agree with PochiePooh. Fill your sump accordingly. I use a check valve but as backup. My overflow will never flood my sump.

[savethereef]

i ran a check valve for 2 years with no cleaning with no problems ever. Now i have a German check valve

[Konadog]

Originally posted by faded1004
yhey kona, how big are your siphon breaks? how many? did you just drill it? tell me more! so interested...

I'm not sure on the size, I just picked a drill that looked about right. I have one drilled on my Sea Swirl right at the water line. I had one on both of my Sea Swirls, but I replaced one with a Wavy Sea and didn't drill it. The one hole still does the job, but not as redundant as it could be.

[slavearm]

Siphon Breaks. The reason the just fill your sump properly method doesn't always work, is because sometimes we have pipes running under the water. Not just at the surface or slightly below.

Check valves also eat a lot of your flow.

[five.five-six]

you have to make sure your siphin break is clean. I have had mine algae up and they no longer work

[Konadog]

I think the point here is "don't rely on any one method" to prevent a flood. Murphy has a way of showing you what you forgot to check!

My sump will handle a shut down, but what if one of my returns came loose, what if a siphon hole pluged up, what if my check valve failed, what if.................................. you can only plan so far, but don't rely on just one safety.

[Scissorhand]

my stand sits on a 10'x10' pan that's 2 feet tall. Used to be one of those outdoor pool for kids.

Murphy's got nothing on me.



ok I don't really do this.

[Beach Native]

FWIW, I have a check valve but I also can hold enough in my sump if it fails.

The biggest advantage to me is that the water level in my tank doesn't drop down all the way to the break point (which is actually below the teeth of the overflow) when I turn off the return.

Mine has never failed in 5+ years but I do clean it once or twice a year to make sure that it closes. I have had crap build up on the flap so that the seal was not 100%.

[faded1004]

yea, i think i am going to get rid of the check valve... want max flow... i am goign to just keep the capacity in the sump, and also put in a break inside the top... shoudl be okay... goign to work on plumbing this weekend... shoudl be fun...

[Scissorhand]

don't get high from fumes on purpose.