Check valve or no check valve

[jd371]

A small hole in the return line right under the water surface combined with the return nozzle facing up near the surface is all you need to do.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I would never, ever use a check valve in the conventional manner. It is doomed to fail, and that's a given. The only way I'd use one is as a reverse check valve....which is my guess to the answer of this question:

.....There is only one, semi sensible reason to use one; and I defy anyone to guess what it is LOL.

Here's an explanation of a reverse check valve:

 

[um02122]

+1 on the Melev's reverse check valve design.

 

[Katrina71]

@Scurvy Just thought you'd like to see another check valve debate. Also the video.

 

[davocean]

Also not a fan of check valves, a properly designed tank should not need one.

 

[Scurvy]

@Scurvy Just thought you'd like to see another check valve debate. Also the video.

I kept mine installed however my backflow when powers out doesnt drain much and I have ample room in the sump so even if it does fail im safe. My main reasoning for using was to keep from disturbing the fuge everytime i cut/lose power.

 

[KenO]

I use them on my pumps. I don't have a basement and everything is on the same level in my house. I have 2 tanks, one is 45 feet from my infloor sump. The second is 25 feet from the same infloor sump. When I had the house built, I had a pit installed in the floor of my fish room. I have plenty of room in the sump, plus I put in anti-siphon devices. I don't like getting all the air blown back into my tanks after a powerfail. Since the checkvalves are right above the pumps, when I need to pull a pump for service, the checkvalve comes out with it and gets cleaned. I also installed union/ball valves so that I can close the lines to hold the water in the lines during maintenance. Someone else mentioned the issue with water rushing back through the pumps and having issues. I was seeing something similar, my DCP pump would give an error if I turned them off then back on before the lines had drained. Checkvalves have their place.