Durso not starting

[sharpimage]

My durso drain has been not starting lately. It acts like it is air locked. The tank has been up for a year and a half and this has been happening for a month or 2. There is a vent hole in the top, and 2 holes in the sides, just below the waterline. Any idea what is causing this? I have taken it all apart and inspected for blockage and there are none. It is also flowing the same amount as always, so I don't know?

To get it to start, I close and open the shut off valve a few times and it goes. Any ideas?

 

[Peace River]

Interesting issue! Can you share pictures of the durso from the top and/or side as well as the valve?

 

[sharpimage]

Interesting issue! Can you share pictures of the durso from the top and/or side as well as the valve?

I will take it later, but it is a standard durso setup, and the valve is a cepex ball valve, from BRS.

 

[EW_Fish]

I'm assuming that water flows into the drain and then backs up?

 

[Water Dog]

If you’re using a Durso, which is a single drain set up, I wouldn’t restrict the drain at all as that’s an accident waiting to happen. Your Durso should run wide open with no restrictions. Valving back the primary drain is for Herbie or Beananimal set ups, where there are secondary and emergency drains should the restricted primary clog.

 

[sharpimage]

If you’re using a Durso, which is a single drain set up, I wouldn’t restrict the drain at all as that’s an accident waiting to happen. Your Durso should run wide open with no restrictions. Valving back the primary drain is for Herbie or Beananimal set ups, where there are secondary and emergency drains.

The valve is always wide open. Only closed if I need to separate the DT from my sump

 

[Silver14SS]

Is the discharge of the drain submerged?

 

[sharpimage]

I'm assuming that water flows into the drain and then backs up?

Water goes into the overflow, and just keeps rising until the drain is fully under water, and it keeps rising.no water goes to the sump. I open and close the valve a few times and it releases and drains again.

 

[Water Dog]

The valve is always wide open. Only closed if I need to separate the DT from my sump

Whew!

 

[sharpimage]

Is the discharge of the drain submerged?

about an inch. It has been fine up until recently.

 

[sharpimage]

Whew!

And the return chamber runs dry before it overflows the tank. But for the life of me, I cant figure out why

 

[Water Dog]

Hopefully, your plumbing in the overflow box is not permanently glued. I would take it apart and search for obstructions.

 

[sharpimage]

Hopefully, your plumbing in the overflow box is not permanently glued. I would take it apart and search for obstructions.

Its not, I have. Nothing there.

 

[EW_Fish]

So both drains are completely under water?

 

[Peace River]

In addition to checking for a blockage, for the purpose of troubleshooting can you take the top part off to see if it will drain with an open top tube? Secondly, is there a way to replumb temporarily to remove the valve? Thirdly, can you temporarily shorten the tube or drop the water level in the sump so the discharge isn’t below the water level?

 

[sharpimage]

So both drains are completely under water?

Only 1 drain, and yes, when it won't start, it goes completely over the drain

 

[sharpimage]

In addition to checking for a blockage, for the purpose of troubleshooting can you take the top part off to see if it will drain with an open top tube? Secondly, is there a way to replumb temporarily to remove the valve? Thirdly, can you temporarily shorten the tube or drop the water level in the sump so the discharge isn’t below the water level?

1 yes
2, no really. I will remove the valve tonight and make sure it isn't blocked. But I had checked earlier
3. will try and report back

 

[EW_Fish]

Remove the elbow. Then try. You want to add or make the side holes bigger.