Hepvo flow valve

[samweltarley]

Hi all,

Firstly, I know naff all about plumbing.

I have just bought a house (off a plumber) and in the bathroom I have a seperate bath and shower cubicle. The bath drain is into the main drain and the shower is teed off from this with a Hepvo waterless valve in line with it. The issue I have is when I run the shower it takes a while to empty the tray. Also, when I empty the bath it backfills into the shower. So, A: Is this fancy valve supposed to block water coming through from the bath to the shower??
and B: If not how could I stop this from happening (would a non return valve be my best bet?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

Andrew

 

[PlumbBobBob]

hi andrew welcome to the forums. yes the fancy valve is supposed to prevent backflow. is it a new install or does it look like it has been in for a while? there may be some sort of obstruction in the valve, sometimes hair gets stuck in the end which prevents it closing properly hence backflow. doesn't explain the slow flow though unless there is a lot of hair etc.

 

[hammers4spanner]

i would guess its a blockage thats my first thought

things i see these days tho ( even from plumbs) it may not be plumbed in properly

 

[Mike Jackson]

Sounds like there is either a partial blockage or the falls are incorrect.

 

[townfanjon]

Andrew, Hep-vo valves are not waterless water does go through them, but can only flow one way. Look for an arrow on the valve body. They come apart very easily , just have a look inside and see if anything is keeping the valve open, it is a long shot because if its open, you would tend to get a smell in the shower cubical.

 

[Centralheatking]

Good Idea CHK

Andrew, Hep-vo valves are not waterless water does go through them, but can only flow one way. Look for an arrow on the valve body. They come apart very easily , just have a look inside and see if anything is keeping the valve open, it is a long shot because if its open, you would tend to get a smell in the shower cubical.

 

[samweltarley]

Hi Jon, thats just what they call them on the website. I can't see an arrow on it but the narrow end is to the outgoing side which I think is correct. It doesn't look that old to be honest I have a feeling that it was installed just before I bought it so not thoroughly tested. Mike, there is hardly any fall at all (on the shower pipe) however the pipe is maybe only 2.5m from the entry to the Tee point. What sort of fall is needed for this?? I will have a look at the valve and get some rods see if there is a blockage.

Thanks for your help fellas

 

[iiplumbing]

Hi Sam

Check to see if the Hepvo has been installed the correct way up

link here http://www.draincenter.co.uk/docs/2741_HepvO_PG_WEB.pdf

Page 7 shows the correct way and an incorrect way (smooth bit to the top), I'm not sure if it will cause what you have described if installed the incorrect way, as I have never used one of them, but its worth just checking!

Russ

 

[Marka1411]

I have seen the rubber in these valves turned inside out which keeps it just open basically, take it off and have a look.

 

[kay-jay]

you want a minimum fall of 18mm per metre so about 45mm total

 

[Ray Stafford]

If it was the wrong way round, it wouldnt work at all, unless the rubber had been inverted.

My bet is a cotton bud or something similar with hair etc built up round it, causing both the slowing of the tray clearing, and permitting the backflow that its meant to prevent.

 

[iiplumbing]

Ray has got a point there!

Deffo not much effort to remove device and have a look

Russ

 

[PhoenixServices]

I have found after a couple of years, the innards of these disintegrate and wash away. No idea why yet.