The Most Common Causes and Symptoms of Check Valve Failure

A failing check valve can be a disaster when you’re operating any liquid handling equipment. By understanding why valves fail and how to detect the early warning signs of check valve failure, you’ll be able to prevent them from failing in the first place and avoid costly downtime and repair.

Causes of Swimming Pool Check Valve and Other Valve Failures

If you’re running a system that transports any type of fluid through piping, it’s likely that you rely on check valves, including swimming pool check valves, as a system safeguard. For guidance on selecting the right valve for your system, check out our blog post on 5 Great Ways to Think About Choosing a Valve. Check valves allow fluid to flow in one direction, preventing backward flow by opening and closing in response to hydraulic pressure. Here are the top reasons for this type of check valve failure:

1. Incorrect installation and assembly of check valve
By incorrectly installing or assembling check valves, you are setting yourself up for problems further down the line. It is crucial to select the right check valve, sized for the application, and install it correctly. Installing a properly sized pool check valve or fuel check valve can significantly reduce the chances of malfunction. By installing the correct check valve, you’ll prevent premature valve failure. Our tip? Remember to take note of flow capacity and the positioning and orientation of the valve during installation.

2. Insufficient maintenance of check valve
Regular maintenance is a sure-fire way to safeguard against failing valves. Look out for any signs of wear and check the pipeline for debris, which can get stuck in the valve and cause damage to the internal mechanisms. If you own a Pentair check valve or similar model, inspect it regularly for damage or blockages. If you see any signs of deterioration, replace your valves as soon as possible.

3. Reverse flow of check valve
Reverse flow is one of the key check valve failure symptoms, particularly in high-pressure systems. Reverse flow occurs when water flows upstream of the check valve. This can be extremely costly and dangerous when it occurs at the pump discharge, causing the pump to spin backwards, which damages the pump over time. Prevent this problem by ensuring your valve is working correctly (fast-closing and tight shutoff).

4. High temperatures of check valve
You should be aware that any application which runs at high temperatures can cause valves to fail early. This is especially critical in chemical or industrial systems, but even a pool check valve exposed to intense heat can degrade faster. Make sure that you keep an eye on your check valves and replace them if you see any sign of wear and tear.

Symptoms of check valve failure

Valves emit warning symptoms when something isn’t right. For example, check valves that are starting to fail will vibrate or make a noise indicating that the valve has broken.

A strange noise can also be a sign of ‘water hammer’ which is a high-pressure surge that occurs when the fluid comes to a stop or changes direction, often causing the disc to slam into the valve. Valves can also start to ‘chatter’ with repeated opening or closing due to oversizing. If a valve is sticking or leaking, this could be a sign of wear and tear, or that debris or other contaminants are in the pipeline.

What are the Symptoms of a Bad Check Valve?

Valves emit warning symptoms when something isn’t right. So, what are the symptoms of a bad check valve? Here are some common signs to watch for:

• Unusual vibration or noise from the valve, which could indicate internal damage.
  
• A strange noise, often a loud thud, could be a sign of a water hammer, a high-pressure surge that occurs when the fluid suddenly stops or changes direction.
  
• Valve chatter, or repeated opening and closing, usually due to valve oversizing or fluctuating pressure.
  
• Sticking or leaking valves, which may be caused by debris, misalignment, or wear of internal components.

For swimming pools, a faulty swimming pool check valve may cause water to drain backward from the spa into the pool when the pump is off.

What are the Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Check Valve?

What are the symptoms of a bad fuel check valve? In fuel systems, a bad check valve may lead to:

• Difficulty starting the engine or delayed ignition
  
• Loss of fuel pressure
  
• Fuel flowing back into the tank
  
• Engine stalling or surging

Recognizing these issues early can help you avoid damage to your fuel pump or injectors.

Are you unsure about what types of valves you should be using, or how to install them correctly? Call our toll-free number on 1-800-367-4180. We have experts on hand to help you install and maintain a variety of equipment. And to answer questions about things you’ve previously tried gone wrong.