A check valve allows water to flow through it in one direction, but prevents it from flowing in the opposite direction. Essentially, this makes water flow only in one direction regardless of the pressure applied on the other side of the valve.
Usually, check valves are located at the end of a water supply line leading to a shower or sink. When the water flow stops, the pressure on the other side is maintained because the weight of the water in the pipeline is still there, causing the valve to remain closed.
However, there are other places where you might want to consider installing a check valve. For example, if you have a pool in the backyard, you can install a check valve at the end of the pool’s drain line so that when the water level drops, it will automatically drain the pool without any intervention from you.
The downside to having a check valve at the end of the drain line, however, is that if the drain line is somehow broken, the entire pool could flood damaging belongings inside the pool space and possibly even posing a threat to the lives of those inside. As a result, it is essential that you install the check valve at a strategic location in your pool area, or somewhere else outside altogether if you don’t have a suitable spot for it.
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Next To Sink
If your pool is located near the house, directly next to the sink which is near the pool, you can consider installing the check valve there so that when you’re brushing your teeth at night or during an occasional afternoon nap, the water doesn’t accidentally splash you when it runs for a while. The same goes for washing hands or cleaning kitchen surfaces.
Even so, if the location is not comfortable for you, you might want to install the check valve in the laundry room or another area nearby so that you don’t have to go all the way to the bathroom when it runs out of water.
Under The Sink
If your pool is located under the sink, you can consider placing the check valve there so that it is out of the way but still accessible whenever you need to shut off the water. This type of location is usually chosen because the area is already a low place and easy for you to access when you need to turn the water off. In this case, the best thing about the location is that it is out of the way and doesn’t take up much room.
However, under the sink is not the most comfortable place for anyone. If you have pets, you might want to consider another option where they can’t reach it easily, such as inside a cupboard or on top of a refrigerator.
On The Wall
If your pool is located on the wall, you can consider placing the check valve there so that it can be accessed easily and doesn’t take up much room. This type of location is chosen because it’s a place nearby which is already convenient for you to reach whenever you need to turn the water off. Even so, this location still requires a bit of an uncomfortable bend to reach.
As a result, if you have pets or children who are small enough to be able to reach the valve when they’re playing around, you might want to install the check valve on the ground near the wall so that it is out of their reach but still accessible when needed.
Behind The Sink
If your pool is behind the sink, you can place the check valve there so that it is easy to access but still hidden when you’re not using it. In this case, the best thing about the location is that it’s out of the way and doesn’t take up much room since there’s not much else behind the sink.
Even so, this is still not the most convenient location for anyone. If you have pets or young children who like to play around near your pool area, you might want to consider another option where they can’t reach it easily.
These are just some of the most common places where you might want to install a check valve on your swimming pool. Remember, the location is crucial since it determines where the water will go if the valve is opened. If you don’t have a suitable spot for the check valve, it’s best to choose one of the places described above instead.