Best shut-off valve for weep?

[MEP001]

There's not a particular direction of flow on the ones you used, although the more expensive ones have the flow into the side that channels it down toward the seat instead of up the shaft.

Did you mount the needle valves on the pump plumbing? I've seen an issue with the cheaper valves where the vibration of the pump caused them to vibrate open or closed. If you're weeping hard or reclaim water, it may have just clogged up.

 

[slash007]

There's not a particular direction of flow on the ones you used, although the more expensive ones have the flow into the side that channels it down toward the seat instead of up the shaft.

Did you mount the needle valves on the pump plumbing? I've seen an issue with the cheaper valves where the vibration of the pump caused them to vibrate open or closed. If you're weeping hard or reclaim water, it may have just clogged up.

No, they are not attached to the pumps. I am weeping hard water as this car wash does not have any soft water. Would that really clog them up so easily? If so, I might have to switch to something else. It is going to be ok weather for the next two days then down to 11 degrees, so I need to figure it out quick. Thanks.

 

[2Biz]

I have a softener and was weeping soft water when I bought the wash. I couldn't figure out why it was set up this way, waisting soft water and salt.
So I replumbed the weep to use unsoftened water. I'm on the third winter and no issues to speak of. Just need to adjust the needle valves at the beginning of the season to make sure all bays are weeping even. Then its pretty much set for all winter.

 

[slash007]

I have a softener and was weeping soft water when I bought the wash. I couldn't figure out why it was set up this way, waisting soft water and salt.
So I replumbed the weep to use unsoftened water. I'm on the third winter and no issues to speak of. Just need to adjust the needle valves at the beginning of the season to make sure all bays are weeping even. Then its pretty much set for all winter.

I am not sure what happened then. Hopefully it was a fluke. I guess I'll just keep an eye on it and hope for the best. Everything was running this morning, but tonight it will go down to 19 so we'll see.

 

[Randy]

We weep “Hard water” or city water using a Weepmizer set on the factory default settings. I measured the amount of water I weep out of the High pressure gun by unplugging the Weepmizer and filling a measured container for 1 minute. After 1 minute I had weeped 20 oz. of water. I probably could cut it back a little but I don’t want to run the risk of freezing up since we are 45 minutes away. Weeping 20 oz. of water might not work in your area but it works for our area.

 

[slash007]

We weep “Hard water” or city water using a Weepmizer set on the factory default settings. I measured the amount of water I weep out of the High pressure gun by unplugging the Weepmizer and filling a measured container for 1 minute. After 1 minute I had weeped 20 oz. of water. I probably could cut it back a little but I don’t want to run the risk of freezing up since we are 45 minutes away. Weeping 20 oz. of water might not work in your area but it works for our area.

Wow, 45 minutes away would drive me crazy. I have one that is 10 min. away and another that is 15-17 min. and I feel like it's far. Thanks for checking the weep volume, I will check mine tomorrow. If I have to guess, I am weeping way more than 20 oz, but am not sure. I had them turned down, but that is when they would randomly stop weeping so I turned them up. How is the weather where you are at? Here we will be between 13-32 degree range most of next week. We do get down to 0 sometimes, but not often. Usually the low is around 8-10 degrees in the winter.

 

[2Biz]

My Outside Truck Bay froze twice so far this winter. It was random and didn't make sense. My weep gun was acting funny...Spitting air and such when weeping. Water would syphon out the gun between weep cycles. I changed the gun out for a new one and haven't had any freezeups since....Was that it? Sure appeared to be since thats all I changed...Its been much colder since I changed it out and haven't had any problems. Something you might check out. Guns are cheap....

 

[MEP001]

There's a small notch in the seat of weep guns that allows for the flow when the trigger isn't pulled. They're not always the same size.

 

[Ghetto Wash]

My weep gun was acting funny...Spitting air and such when weeping.

When that happened to me, I had a solenoid on the presoak or tire cleaner air line that was stuck partially open. That bay frequently froze 'till I figured it out.

 

[2Biz]

When that happened to me, I had a solenoid on the presoak or tire cleaner air line that was stuck partially open. That bay frequently froze 'till I figured it out.

If that were happening, my flojet pump would cycle if none of the bays were in use. Or I would be going through a bunch of air. That wasn't happening. I think in my case, the little notch in the gun was erroded which allowed the water to syphon. But you are right, it had to be getting air from somewhere. Although, I didn't change anything else. It weeps fine now and does not spit and sputter when weeping and does not syphon...Just throwing that out there for Slash in case this was his problem...Thanks for the tip, a partially open air solenoid would definetly cause problems....

 

[slash007]

I do have two bays that spit and sputter when they weep and it drove me crazy trying to figure out why. I ended up just turning up the weep pressure to get them working. Never knew that the gun could cause an issue. Thanks for the tip, I'll swap some guns out today and see if that helps.

 

[slash007]

I just checked and my bays are weeping between 10 and 14oz a minute. (The farther ones are more). How much are some of you other guys weeping?

 

[Randy]

I just checked and my bays are weeping between 10 and 14oz a minute. (The farther ones are more). How much are some of you other guys weeping?

I’d balance them out so I’m weeping 20 - 21 oz. per minute. That’s the rate that I’ve found works the best for us here in the Pacific Northwest. Its cloudy, foggy with a high of 33 deg. this afternoon, Ice Fog tonight with a low of 21.

 

[slash007]

I will turn them up as this week is will be down to 9 degrees. It just looks like alot of water coming out, but I hate freeze ups. Thanks for your input.

 

[Randy]

What kind of solenoid valve are you using the supply water to your weep system? Do you have a water pressure regulator on your weep system?

 

[slash007]

I am using a Dema NO valve that I just put in when I started using the Weepmizer. I do not have a water pressure regulator.

 

[Randy]

I am using a Dema NO valve that I just put in when I started using the Weepmizer. I do not have a water pressure regulator.

Which Model DEMA valve are you using and what size is it?

 

[MEP001]

I am using a Dema NO valve that I just put in when I started using the Weepmizer.

You might be having a problem with the solenoid not opening fully (or at all). Dema 412's in particular are really bad about sticking and not opening or closing. I put in a new one before we opened and it failed to close the first time I tested it and failed to open the first time it froze. I replaced it with a Dema O473P (diaphragm type) and it has been fine.

 

[slash007]

Dema 0474P 120V 1/2" Solenoid Valve - Normally Open

 

[Randy]

Dema 0474P 120V 1/2" Solenoid Valve - Normally Open

That's a good choice