Ball Valves Or Hole Drilled To Break Siphon

[Duzzy]

Hi there,

I was wondering whether to use a ball valve or to drill a hole in my return pipes to break the siphon to stop overflows in a power outage.

Regards Darren

 

[5teady_2012]

Cant you just buy a non return valve?

 

[Duzzy]

Cant you just buy a non return valve?

Thats a ball valve I think...

 

[adamgreen240]

yes it is, only thing i have read about them is they need cleaning VERY frequently to make sure they operate properly.

 

[squeakytoy]

No a ball valve is simply an "on or off" that is far more reliable than the screw down cutoffs. the "non return valve" is something that will allow the water to travel in one direction only, and prevent any backwards flow. Like the valves on blow up pools and floaties, if you dont squeeze them, they will only allow air to go in, not out.

 

[rabbut]

Lets just clarify, overflows for a sump right? If so, what plumbing are you using (descripmtion or perferably photos please) so we know what to recomend.

Most sump overflows won't need any kind of safety device for power outages, breaking the syphen when flow into the tank stops, and strating up again when slow returns Obiously we can't tell whether yours will do this without seeing pics or reading a description of how it is plumbed

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Duzzy]

Lets just clarify, overflows for a sump right? If so, what plumbing are you using (description or preferably photos please) so we know what to recommend.

Most sump overflows won't need any kind of safety device for power outages, breaking the siphon when flow into the tank stops, and strating up again when slow returns Obviously we can't tell whether yours will do this without seeing pics or reading a description of how it is plumbed

All the best
Rabbut

Ok cool, I am having a glass overflow with combs, inside is a durso standpipe and a taller emergency overflow that is straight being that it will make a huge sucking noise that will alert me of a blocked durso. Into and out of a sump and into the tank via 2 returns I need to break the siphon on those returns. Question's are the best way to do this. If I use the hole where exactly does it go?

 

[OldMan47]

The safest way to break the siphon would be a T that has the vented end above the tank but high enough that the normal water pressure on your return won't raise water to the top of the T. The typical setup for pumping large scale in an industrial setting would be a T with a small pipe extending over the pond from the vented part of the T.

 

[rabbut]

I assume then that the returns are submerged in the tank? If so, use either Oldmans fix, or drill a large-ish hole just above the water surface to break the syphen. Colins method is the most shurefire, but if your pushing a large flow can look unsightly, as the T will extend some way. The hole drilled will leak some flow, but won't look as untidy as a lenght of pipe going up the back of the hood

 

[Duzzy]

Thanks all, not sure I understand the T thing but if I do it means the T would be above the tank? and whats old mans. How much flow would come out of the hole? would it break the surface?

I assume then that the returns are submerged in the tank? If so, use either Oldmans fix, or drill a large-ish hole just above the water surface to break the syphen. Colins method is the most shurefire, but if your pushing a large flow can look unsightly, as the T will extend some way. The hole drilled will leak some flow, but won't look as untidy as a lenght of pipe going up the back of the hood

 

[rabbut]

Oldman refurs to the poster above my reply

Basically, the return pipe with the T fitted would have a T junction where you would usually have a 90o elbow to take the flow over the rim from the verticle pipe. The water would come up, and overflow over into the return nozel from the T, while some water raises up the T to a certain point at which the water is entering the tank at the same rate as the return pump is running. Once the pump stops, the syphen starts and the water level in the T falls, below the return section, filling the pipe with air, stopping the pipe from syphening back into your sump tank. I hope that makes sence, as I don't know how else to explain it...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Duzzy]

Thanks Rabbut,

I have done a search for pictures. Still looking. As for asking "whats old mans" well dont I feel dense lol

Regards Darren