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PLUMBING TOPICS
APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
OIL TANKS
PIPING IN BUILDINGS, Clogs Leaks Types
  AGE OF PIPING
  AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES
  BRASS WATER PIPES
  CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING
  CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR
  CHECK VALVES
  CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS
  COMPRESSION FITTINGS
  COPPER PIPING in BUILDINGS
  CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS
    FIRST SIGNS of DRAIN CLOGGING
    DRAIN vs SEPTIC
    BLOCKED DRAIN?
    DRAIN DRAINFIELD DIAGNOSTIC TABLE
    PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPING / Tankless Coil & Hot Water
    Water pipe clog diagnosis
    Water pipe clog repair guide
  CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
  CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING
  DIAELECTRIC PIPE FITTINGS
  DRAIN & SEWER PIPING
  DRAIN NOISES
  FLARE FITTINGS
  FREEZE-PROOF PIPES
  GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS
  GALVANIZED STEEL WATER PIPING
  LEAD PIPES in BUILDINGS
  LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE
  LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
  LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES
  LEAK TYPES, Water Supply/Drain Pipe
  OIL TANK PIPING DEFECTS
  PLASTIC PIPING
    ABS Plastic Pipes
    Polybutylene Plumbing Plastic Pipes
    Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe
    Polybutylene (PB) Pipes
    CPVC Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride Pipe
    PB Polybutylene Pipe Failure Claims
  PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES
  PLUMBING DRAIN CLEANOUTS
  PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS
  PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & TYPES
  PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
  REPAIR BURST LEAKY PIPES
  SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION
  SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR
  SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION
  SEWER GAS ODORS
  SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER
  SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION
  SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT
  SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING
  TRAPS on DRAINS
  VALVES, PLUMBING
  VENT PIPING
  WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE
  Water pipe clog diagnosis
  Water pipe clog repair guide
  WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS
  WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE
WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT
WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY
WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE
WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUST
WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE - WELLS
WATER PUMPS, TANKS, WELLS - BASICS
WATER PUMP CAPACITIES TYPES RATES GPM
WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER PUMP SAFETY
WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING
WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE
WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS
WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES
WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING
WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL
WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER TANK REPAIRS
WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD
WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR
WATER TANK BLADDER PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
WATER TANK PRESSURE CALCULATIONS
WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE
WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME
WATER TESTING
WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES
WATER USAGE TABLE
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS
  AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES
  Basement Wells
  CISTERNS
  DEPTH of a WELL, HOW TO MEASURE
  Drilled Wells - steel casings
    Drilled Well with Submersible Pump
    Shallow Well with One Line Jet Pump
    Well with Two Line Jet Pump
  Driven Point Wells
  How Much Water is In the Well?
  How to Test Well Water Quantity
  How to Get More Water From a Well
  Hand Dug Wells
  Hand Dug Well Procedure
  Jetted Wells
  Springs as Water Supply
  Wash Wells
  Well Pits
  WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES
  WELL DEPTH, HOW TO MEASURE
  WELL FLOW RATE
  WELL LIFE EXPECTANCY
  WELL PIPING CHECK VALVES
  WELL PIPING FOOT VALVES
  WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS
  WELL PIPING TAIL PIECE
  WELL PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
  WELL PUMP PRIMING GUIDE
  WELL SHOCKING GUIDE
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Photograph of a water system check valve Water System Check Valves
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • Check valves on muncipal water supply systems
  • Check valves on pump and well water systems
  • Where do we find the water system check valve (if any) and why are check valves used on pump and well systems?
  • Well pump & water tank diagnosis & repair procedures
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.

This article explains water supply piping check valves used on both municipal water supply piping (usually near the water meter) and on private pump and well water supply systems (usually near the well pump). Readers of this document whose building is served by a well, pump, and water tank system should also see WELL PIPING FOOT VALVES.

© Copyright 2010 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

WATER WELL, PUMP, & TANK CHECK VALVES

Photograph of a water system check valve

On a well and pump water supply system a check valve may be installed between the incoming water line from the well and the water pump and pressure tank, such as shown in this photograph of a one line jet pump with a check valve right at the water pump inlet.

You can see the check valve as a bronze assembly at the face of the pump, connected to well piping in this photo. (A similar check valve is visible closer to the foundation wall in a different water pump installation shown in the page top photo.)

You'll notice that this is a one-line jet pump system with the inlet or suction line from the well running horizontally from the face of the pump, and the outlet water line rising vertically off of the pump assembly. The pump's electric motor is at the rear of the assembly. (You can see corrosion and leaks on the water line rising from the pump assembly.)

The water pump check valve helps avoid loss of prime (it keeps water from flowing backwards out of the pump and water tank and back into the well when the pump motor has stopped).

Water piping check valve (C) Daniel Friedman Water piping check valve (C) Daniel Friedman

Our photos above show a tpyical brass well piping check valve. A spring-loaded internal valve permits water to flow through the valve only in one direction. The check valve helps assure that the jet pump can suck water out of a shallow well - most water pumps cannot move water if the inside of the pump assembly itself is air bound. Atop some pump assemblies you'll see a removable pipe plug which permits water to be poured into the pump to prime it. (DO NOT pour water into or onto the electric motor itself.)

In summary, a well piping check valve prevents water from siphoning back out of the water tank and water pump and down into the (presumably lower) water well when the pump stops running.

A check valve at this location is a great idea and reduces the risk that a failure of the foot valve down in the well leads to inability of the pump to draw water. The foot valve s located at the bottom of the well piping and intended to accomplish the same thing. This is "cheap insurance" or perhaps the foot valve has already failed (or was omitted) at this installation.

Check Valves on Municipal Water Supply Piping

You may see check valves installed on municipal water supply piping too, to prevent possibly unsanitary water from inside a building's piping from back-flowing into and contaminating the municipal water supply system piping during a time of loss of municipal water pressure.

Check valves installed at the right location on water system piping are a good idea and are required by national and local plumbing codes in many jurisdictions.

Check valves are also installed on drain piping such as on some sewer lines (where sewer backups are likely) and on sump pumps (discussed below).

Other Applications of Check Valves on Building Plumbing & Piping

Check valves on sump pumps: Check valves are used in other plumbing applications as well, such as on sump pump drain lines to prevent back-flow of water from the sump pump exit piping into the sump pit when the sump pump turns off.

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PLUMBING TOPICS
PIPING IN BUILDINGS, Clogs Leaks Types
  AGE OF PIPING
  AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES
  BRASS WATER PIPES
  CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING
  CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR
  CHECK VALVES
  CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS
  COMPRESSION FITTINGS
  COPPER PIPING in BUILDINGS
  CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS
    FIRST SIGNS of DRAIN CLOGGING
    DRAIN vs SEPTIC
    BLOCKED DRAIN?
    DRAIN DRAINFIELD DIAGNOSTIC TABLE
    PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPING / Tankless Coil & Hot Water
    Water pipe clog diagnosis
    Water pipe clog repair guide
  CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
  CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING
  DIAELECTRIC PIPE FITTINGS
  DRAIN & SEWER PIPING
  DRAIN NOISES
  FLARE FITTINGS
  FREEZE-PROOF PIPES
  GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS
  GALVANIZED STEEL WATER PIPING
  LEAD PIPES in BUILDINGS
  LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE
  LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
  LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES
  LEAK TYPES, Water Supply/Drain Pipe
  OIL TANK PIPING DEFECTS
  PLASTIC PIPING
    ABS Plastic Pipes
    Polybutylene Plumbing Plastic Pipes
    Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe
    Polybutylene (PB) Pipes
    CPVC Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride Pipe
    PB Polybutylene Pipe Failure Claims
  PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES
  PLUMBING DRAIN CLEANOUTS
  PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS
  PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & TYPES
  PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
  REPAIR BURST LEAKY PIPES
  SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION
  SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR
  SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION
  SEWER GAS ODORS
  SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER
  SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION
  SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT
  SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING
  TRAPS on DRAINS
  VALVES, PLUMBING
  VENT PIPING
  WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE
  Water pipe clog diagnosis
  Water pipe clog repair guide
  WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS
  WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE
WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT
WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY
WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE
WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUST
WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE - WELLS
WATER PUMPS, TANKS, WELLS - BASICS
WATER PUMP CAPACITIES TYPES RATES GPM
WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER PUMP SAFETY
WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING
WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE
WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS
WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES
WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING
WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL
WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER TANK REPAIRS
WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD
WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR
WATER TANK BLADDER PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
WATER TANK PRESSURE CALCULATIONS
WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE
WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME
WATER TESTING
WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES
WATER USAGE TABLE
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS
  AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES
  Basement Wells
  CISTERNS
  DEPTH of a WELL, HOW TO MEASURE
  Drilled Wells - steel casings
  Driven Point Wells
  How Much Water is In the Well?
  How to Test Well Water Quantity
  How to Get More Water From a Well
  Hand Dug Wells
  Hand Dug Well Procedure
  Jetted Wells
  Springs as Water Supply
  Wash Wells
  Well Pits
  WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES
  WELL DEPTH, HOW TO MEASURE
  WELL FLOW RATE
  WELL LIFE EXPECTANCY
  WELL PIPING CHECK VALVES
  WELL PIPING FOOT VALVES
  WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS
  WELL PIPING TAIL PIECE
  WELL PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
  WELL PUMP PRIMING GUIDE
  WELL SHOCKING GUIDE
WINTERIZE A BUILDING

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Home Reference Book - Carson Dunlop The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
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ENERGY SAVE
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VENTILATE
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SEPTIC
| ROOF| SOLAR| STRUCTURE| CONTACT
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