I noticed today that the chlorine injector in my home water treatment system was leaking. When I disconnected the tubing that feeds to the water line, there was a steady drip (disconnected at the injector-pump end).
My question is this: Do I have one problem or two?
It seems to me that there must be some sort of one-way valve where the tubing from the injector connects to the water line. So maybe there’s a bad valve there?
It also seems to me that the injector pump, itself, shouldn’t be leaking, even if there’s water coming in from the house’s pressurized water system.
More info: The chlorine “treats” the extreme sulfur odor from my well water. The chlorine injector feeds chlorinated water from a “chlorine pot” into the water system. It’s connected AFTER the pressure tank, but before the holding tank and other equipment for the softening system. The injector pump kicks on when the well pump is running.
Thanks for any insight. Hopefully the system installer will be out within a few days … but in the meantime, I have a steady drip and smelly water.
-Allen
Replies
Greetings Allen,
This post to your question will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones eye that can help you with advice.
Cheers
Eenie,weenie...chili-beanie
I've never worked on residential systems, but have engineered and installed chlorine and other chemical piping systems in industry.
I would expect there to be a check valve. Commercial chemical injectors have the check valve within the nozzle itself. Some pumps have integral checks inside them as well. I've also seen systems where the check valve is separate and installed in the tubing.
Liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite solution) is prone to leaks because you have to use plastics that resist the strong chemical, and it's difficult to get fittings to seal. Fittings and tubing have to be clean, free of scratches, and well tightened.
I guess I'm not being a whole lot of help. But chlorine systems are fussy.
Allen: I have a similar system - but the chlorine injector is passive. It's a 6" dia X 8" tall cylinder w/ a screw-on top. I dump a pile of pellets into it about monthly. Has a small siphon tube that sticks up into the cavity. Device is fed by 1" PVC pipe, and where siphon tube connects to line it necks down to about 1/2 inch. Tube gets clogged up about every 8 mo to a year. System works because you have a lot of bacteria in well water that produces hydrogen sulfide gas when exposed to air. Chlorine kills bacteria & causes insoluble iron chloride to precipitate out. If your system is like mine, you super chlorinate the water, let it set in holding tank, then remove excess chlorine in a activated carbon filter. Might consider my passive type system as an alternative if your active system goes south very often. Well, don't let it go south, it will come to where I am in Atlanta, GA.
I don't like the idea of active chlorine injectors - too many opportunities for problems w/ such a corrosive oxidizing substance.
Went back & re-read your note. Mine clogged up about 2 months ago. Just got around to fixing it last week. Consider looking at the junction of the injector pipe & your main water line. Chlorine works because you probably have a high iron content & the high concentration of chlorine reacts w/ the iron to precipitate it out. The inlet gets clogged w/ caked rust. My installer sold me (for about $15) a replacement injector siphon tube. Now I can alternate them, reaming out the one replaced each time. Since they most likely use your own, crummy, water to make the chlorine slurry, it will have a certain amount of rust in it, leading to opportunities for clogging. The check valve would be a likely candidate for a spot to get a clog, leading to a leak. Won't take much to botch up the seat of any valve. Until I read your post, never saw the advantage of my system - sorta simple minded & fail safe since it is completely self contained.
Don
The GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
Edited 1/15/2005 5:05 pm ET by Don
Thanks for the info. I took the injector pump to the installer, and they replaced a cracked housing inside the unit. I reconnected it, but it doesn't seem to be injecting. It may be a problem with the check valve, which is attached at the point that the tubing connects to my water supply.I'm injecting (or trying to) a weak chlorine solution to eliminate sulfur odor. My well water is potable with no treatment (no bacteria), but naturally very high in dissolved sulfur. That's my understanding, anyway.I was able to get an installation/users manual while at the installer's (wasn't given one previously, for some reason), so hopefully I'll be able to troubleshoot from now on.Thanks again, everyone.Allen
Allen,
Not sure I'm gonna be of much help either. I avoid installing liquid chlorine systems on the wells out here for the same reason that everybody else does, too.........they're frequently trouble.
Instead we install chlorine pellet dropper units. Far less problematic.