plumbing help please

[coralreefer]

what is a check valve? where do i put it in the plumbing?

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by coralreefer
http:///forum/post/2594412
what is a check valve? where do i put it in the plumbing?
Im not exactly sure, but I think it is a part that only allows flow to go in one direction so if you are making a sump and you want to prevent it from siphoning back into it then you can place a check valve in the return and it will only allow flow to go one way.

 

[schnutzzy]

A check valve only allows the flow of water to go in one direction. It will have an arrow on it to show you which way it will flow. I have them on all lines returning to my DT. This will keep you from having a flood from a power outage or if a pump takes a dump.

 

[turningtim]

Check valves also fail! I don't depend on them for one second! In power out situations. The easiest thing to do is calculate how much water you lose from the DT and make sure you have that much room for backwash in the sump.
If you lose 1" of water from your tank and the tank is a 55 (lets say)
12"x48"x1"= 576" (cubed) divid by 231 (" cubed in a gallon)= 2.5 gallons.
Now just do the volume calc for the sump and see how much room you need for backwash. Now no matter what happens the DT or sump will not overflow (except pipe blockage)!
JMO
Tim

 

[schnutzzy]

Your right Tim and I should have said that to. I have check valves and use your formula also. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[turningtim]

Originally Posted by schnutzzy
http:///forum/post/2594565
Your right Tim and I should have said that to. I have check valves and use your formula also. Thanks for setting me straight.

No worries! I have just experienced very early on that they do fail and its not fun!