Frequently Asked Questions
Q. "What does shut off at 20' mean?"
A. It means that the pump cannot pump higher (measured vertically) than 19' 11" (with no friction loss taken into account). If you install a pipe 19 feet 11 inches high straight up from the pump, water would still trickle over and out of the pipe. If you install a pipe with a height of 20' straight up from the pump, while the pump continues to operate, water will just stay at that height in the pipe.
Q. "Can I mount the check valve horizontally?"
A. It is recommended the check valve (or check/ball valve combination) be mounted vertically, however each can be mounted horizontally. The installation for each unit is similar; the check valve hinge must be at the top.
Q. "Can I safely use an air admittance valve (or "auto vent") on any of the above systems?"
A. Although some people have installed an air admittance valve on the above systems, we will never suggest or recommend that you do so. We always recommend installing a vent all the way through the roof (and as per your local codes). We have had people write us stating that when they installed an air admittance valve the flapper in the valve can chatter and create vibration. The right way to go is to install a non-mechanical vent, all the way to the roof, and as per your local codes.
Q. "What does the automatic reset thermal overload protection do?"
A. If the pump gets too hot the thermal overload protection will turn it off until the pump cools down (to prevent damage to the motor). The pump turns back on after it has cooled down enough. This backup protection feature is useful if some debris causes the pump to overheat.
Q. "Do I need to install a vent pipe to the tank?"
A. It really depends on how you plumb the piping to the tank and each situation is different. In many cases with any brand of sealed tank the simple answer is yes as you need air to displace the volume of discharge. An AAV may be used in many areas of the country but local codes always prevail and so best to check with your local code authorities before purchasing the enclosed tank system/s such as these shown on this page.
