check valves

[CKreef]

Anyone use check valves? How did you install them?

 

[crumbletop]

I don't use one on my tank. They are typically installed between the return pump and the bulkhead. The reason I don't use one is that they are unreliable if you are counting on them to stop back-flow and prevent flooding your sump. What I do is make sure there is enough room in the sump for the backflow water through the return lines when the return pump is switched off. If you do that, you won't need a check valve.

I do have a small check valve on my ATO resevoir output to keep kalk from the kalk reactor from backflowing into the RO/DI resevoir.

 

[KAiNE]

I use them but only the "Y" type like this - http://www.savko.com/partlist.asp?pgid=1&ptid=3&pid=2

The other type restricts flow too much IMO. One thing, you MUST clean them regularly or they will fail.

 

[KAiNE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8193059#post8193059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crumbletop
I don't use one on my tank. They are typically installed between the return pump and the bulkhead. The reason I don't use one is that they are unreliable if you are counting on them to stop back-flow and prevent flooding your sump. What I do is make sure there is enough room in the sump for the backflow water through the return lines when the return pump is switched off. If you do that, you won't need a check valve.

I use them only on my "under rock" lines. I plumbed 1" under my rock to prevent dead areas. I have a hole drilled about 2" below water level. This way I never get air in the line. If the check valve fails, I'd have a spill but at least the tank wouldnt drain down to only 2"...lol

 

[c_stowers]

I use them on my return line to prevent backflow. I only use the swing check valves and not the spring because of head pressure issues. If mine failed, I would spill about 1 gallong of water, but so far I have had no problems and have been using them for about 3 years.

 

[cee]

I use the flapper style as a backup to the anti-siphon features on my return lines. Many power outages and never a problem with a check valve. Redundancy makes sure Murphy stays at someone else's house...

Dave