Gravity flow design construction gravity flow water systems.
Gravity fed water system airlock.
Plumbing forum plumbing advice.
Airlock in primary hot water circuit power flushing old gravity fed indirect system.
Gravity systems are simple but very complex at the same time.
Plumbing forum plumbing advice.
Calculating water flow pipe size understanding air locks and using siphons are covered.
Air lock best practice prevention.
And today in many parts of new zealand where access to power is uneconomic or impossible gravity fed water systems are still used to keep water flowing to troughs and homes.
The spring loaded valve works in opening and releasing high pressure and air during extreme system pressure.
There are four basic elements to a gravity water system.
If the holding tanks get drained an airlock always developed and i just loosen the band clamp to let the air out again.
It s a gravity fed system.
The system was fine for 40 years going back before my time but due to gradual settling there is now a place where airlocks regularly develop.
Long before there were complicated electric pump systems for rural properties there was gravity.
When the hot and cold water is gravity fed then by crossing the water over will make getting the airlock out of the pipes virtually impossible.
I am not getting any hot water from my hot water taps two showers which are fed from a water pump.
I am not a qualified plumber just a frustrated consumer.
If power is a problem gravity may be your best bet for a reliable water supply.
New stove gravity system airlocking.
Source intake sediment removal.
Examples and references are given.
To get an airlock out of either the cold or the hot water you require a water pressure more that the pipe that has the airlock in so that there is force pushing the airlock away.
Please note that any action taken as a result of watching this video clip will be at your own risk.
Useful factsheet from the british colombia ministry of agriculture and lands detailing the problems and solutions of gravity flow pipe system design.
Hot water still coming from sources not linked to the pump kitchen bath bathroom sink no hot water in two showers or en suite in attic room hot water tap runs dry.
I hope that my simple overview will help you design build and enjoy a gravity fed system too.
I have a gravity feed water system to a mountain cabin.
It sounds like such a simple theory too.