Plumbing question:

[ficklefins]

Is it better to split the line coming out of the pump at the start or end of the line?

As a follow up question. If I use a ball valve to reduce flow should that be at the start or right before the split?

Thanks for your help.

 

[conda]

What I did to reduce flow was to Tee the return sending one line out and one back to the sump. Then I placed a ball valve on the line back to the sump just after the Tee. This way, I could cut back flow without restricting the pump.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I'm not sure about the ball valve question, but having the split at the very last makes more sense to me. If you have the split at the start of the pump, the bulk of the force of the water will slam into the "Y" or "T" and you would lose drastic flow. Towards the end of the piping, the force would seem to be more fluid and readily split.

 

[ficklefins]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6864072#post6864072 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis L. Stevens
I'm not sure about the ball valve question, but having the split at the very last makes more sense to me. If you have the split at the start of the pump, the bulk of the force of the water will slam into the "Y" or "T" and you would lose drastic flow. Towards the end of the piping, the force would seem to be more fluid and readily split.

Exactly what I was thinking, and going off that same idea I think I may put the ball valve at the start. By reducing the amount flow at the start it doesn't affect the force of the flow as much as it would at the end of the line where the GPH is already less. Does that make sense?

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6864160#post6864160 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ficklefins
Exactly what I was thinking, and going off that same idea I think I may put the ball valve at the start. By reducing the amount flow at the start it doesn't affect the force of the flow as much as it would at the end of the line where the GPH is already less. Does that make sense?

Sounds perfect. But, I would incorporate what conda said. I would go all the way up, and split at the last possible moment, and have a split somewhere on the way up, preferably closest to the pump and have that split have the ballvalve on it to re-enter the sump to decrease flow on the outlets, but not put pressure on the pump itself

 

[ficklefins]

Thanks for explaining that I wasn't sure what he meant by restricting the pump. Back to the drawing board then.

Thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[wetWolger]

as for the valve it does not matter where you put it....flow will be the same before and after the valve, pressure will be higher before the valve but this can't be avoided (other than outputing the extra flow to some other point). So thus it does not matter.

As for the T putting it earlier will reduce flow velocity in the pipe which will reduce flow loss due to friction. The trade off in this is more pipes/more plumbing/more work. If you can add the extra piping cleanly and easiy it is better to T it off early. Although a Y instead of a T and then if you have to a couple 45angle peices would be better than a T for flow loss too.

hope this helps

p.s. since your new to plumbing it sounds like (sorry if your not)....don't forget plenty of unions. When in doubt add a union. It will make life so much easier in the long run, trust me.

 

[conda]

Yes, use alot of unions. See my plumbing setup at the bottom of THIS page.

And see the top of THIS page for an example of what I was talking about with reguards to the return plumbing.

Hope this helps give you some ideas.