I can see that the check valve isn't holding water, please help

AJB1234

0
Gold Supporter
Dec 5, 2015
253
Newport Beach, CA
Hi, I have a water fountain that is plumbed like a small pool. I have a check valve that I can visually see water is not being held as I can see it slowly lowering within the check valve window. I have replaced this with the brand new one and it still isn't working. Any ideas and thank you
 
Show us pictures of the fountain, the check valve and the plumbing.
 
Thank you for your help. Here are some pics

In the bottom picture the bottom right check valve is the one that I can see the water not being held. I fill the basket with water and I can see the water in the window of the check valve going back down the pipes
1000026973.jpg1000026972.jpg
 
Show a head on picture looking at the check valve.

Is it installed correctly or upside down?
 
I think everything is OEM. Here's a picture of the check valve that is not holding the water. I'm almost certain It is installed the proper direction. The water does flow up when the pump is on. When the pump is off or when it's running for a while, the water isn't holding drops below the window shown here
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Different manufactures make check valves and the internal shapes are not identical. Parts are not interchangeable.

Examine the shape and condition of the housing port and compare it to the shape of the flapper. Unfortunately manufactures do not clearly mark the housing or valve to know exactly what you have.
 
1000026977.jpg1000026978.jpgthanks. The back of the check valve as shown in the picture shows Hayward so I would think that would be the appropriate check valve to use. I do recall a different brand check valve at one location in the system but I'm not sure if it was for this fountain, a different fountain, or the pool.
 

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Yeah, I see Hayward on the right side of the lid.
 
Did you check the condition of the lower port in the housing when you replaced the flapper?

Glue can drip onto the port and damage the seal.
 
Here's a view that shows there is a second check valve but I don't think the check valve that's higher is the problem. It's challenging to even fill the basket with water because it takes forever and the check valve is very close to the basket so it should be a quick fill. Attached our pictures of the inside of the check valve where the flapper would stop the flow. I see nothing wrong. No glue or anything. Any thoughts on how to fix this? Thank you
 

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I can’t tell very well in the pic, but what is going on with the face of the valve in the picture that’s marked? Is that water, degraded o-ring, degraded plastic? The o-ring for the lid seals in that area. Depending on what’s going on there, it could be cause for concern.
 
The face of the valve is just water. The pipe looks perfect. I cant figure out why it's not holding water. I fill the basket and can watch it go down. I have to fill it long enough where the water goes past the check valve and starts to back up. I can then get prime but once it turns off the water goes back down. The water will remain full in the basket until I run it once and then the basket water level drops.

Any ideas?
 
I can fill the water to the proper level to see the water halfway full in the window of the check valve. The check valve is definitely holding the water as I can tell The water level is not dropping in the window of the check valve. But when I fill The basket up with more water then I notice that The water Doesn't fill up for a long time and the run between the check valve and the basket is short. I feel like the water might be going somewhere else and that the check valve is functioning properly. Like maybe the water is going the opposite direction into the pump. I can fill the basket all the way and it will stay there but when I turn the pump on the water in the basket drops to almost zero. I can repeat filling the basket with water turning the pump on and the level in the basket will continue to be empty after the pump is running. If I do this three or four times I can eventually run the pump with the basket full of water and it works at high speed. But when it goes to low speed then the water drops again in the basket. I'm so confused I don't get it. Please help