Float Valve Problems

mark · #1 05-25-2007, 10:34 PM

Just a comment/question from the other side (I'm using a float valve made for furnace humidifiers).

How many people out there have had their basements flooded or heard of other people having problems with their furnace humidifier. Seems the only problem I've ever heard, relating to the valve, was is they wouldn't flow.

Guessing there's more humidifiers than fish tanks.

untamed · #2 05-26-2007, 06:09 AM

My FW holding tank is nearly 100 gallons, and it is 3 feet off the ground. Since the water line is JG tubing (really small), the Kent float valve easily holds the pressure.

Nevertheless, I do have a float switch solenoid that will close the line in the event of unusually high water level in the sump.

mark · #3 05-26-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

My FW holding tank is nearly 100 gallons,

How is the FW water maintained (sealed container, do you keep it aerated, agitated, any concerns of undesirable grow etc)?

danny zubot · #4 05-28-2007, 06:39 PM

Quote:

I am going to turn the RO's 5g pressurized reservoir off and throttle back the input on the RO unit anyways.

Thats what I did prior to getting the auto shut off celeniod Christy mentioned above. It helps to save water any way.

Another bonus to having the auto top system running directly into the sump that many haven't thought of; Having fresh cold water frequently dumped into the tank also helps with cooling. My temp has been reduced about .75 to 1 degree since I added the top off system.

wickedfrags · #5 05-29-2007, 03:36 PM

Be mindful to use food grade storage containers for your RO/RODI water (or glass or acrylic of course). Especially important for somewhat long-term storage of water, some plastics have been known to leach plastics into the make-up water.

Todd · #6 06-08-2007, 12:21 AM

If anyone is interested, my tank made it though my time away no problem. I will likely do this same system again for future extended periods away (hooking my RO unit straight into a sump float valve).

The only problem is that my arrow crab didn't make it through with only flake being fed. I guess I should have thought of this fact, but I really didn't think it was going to be a problem to only have flake (with an auto timer).

Pescador · #7 06-08-2007, 10:55 PM

Glad your tank made it through with no problems, I saw this article the other day and reminded me of your thread.
Hooking up an RO Unit Directly to your sump - A Recipe for Disaster

TedH · #8 05-27-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark

Just a comment/question from the other side (I'm using a float valve made for furnace humidifiers).

How many people out there have had their basements flooded or heard of other people having problems with their furnace humidifier. Seems the only problem I've ever heard, relating to the valve, was is they wouldn't flow.

Guessing there's more humidifiers than fish tanks.

I'm using the same system. I tried a Coralife float on my reservior and flooded my basment with R/O water. Since switching to the humidifier float I've had no further problems. Picked the float up at Home Hardware for 10 bucks. You couldn't use this one with salt water because it has a metal pin for the float lever, but since it isn't actually in the water it is fine for the R/O water.