Anti-Syphon / Vacuum Valve Replacement

[kyleview]

Spent this afternoon replacing a faulty (leaking) copper "inverted U" anti syphon valve with a new Martec vacuum valve I had got 2 years ago - had put off doing previously, but leakage into the bilge over the weekend was a real pain so forced to act.

I have cleaned out the "U" copper one twice a year in fresh water but has leaked from the start - but this weekend it was 10l in the bilge for 3/4 hours of motoring - little wind and in wrong direction! I have tried to get a replacement for the 3/4 mil "rubber" membrane in it without success as I think it had got a bit hard - tried Halyard who seemed the obvious choice but did not have.

Has anyone had similar experience, also how good is the Martec one as a replacement? Was not too difficult to replace, but a bit fiddly. Needed to get the direction of water flow correct.

 

[Stork_III]

If you are referring to the VP value Here the "rubber " disc seal is available from VP dealers ie Volspec.

 

[VicS]

Spent this afternoon replacing a faulty (leaking) copper "inverted U" anti syphon valve with a new Martec vacuum valve I had got 2 years ago - had put off doing previously, but leakage into the bilge over the weekend was a real pain so forced to act.

I have cleaned out the "U" copper one twice a year in fresh water but has leaked from the start - but this weekend it was 10l in the bilge for 3/4 hours of motoring - little wind and in wrong direction! I have tried to get a replacement for the 3/4 mil "rubber" membrane in it without success as I think it had got a bit hard - tried Halyard who seemed the obvious choice but did not have.

Has anyone had similar experience, also how good is the Martec one as a replacement? Was not too difficult to replace, but a bit fiddly. Needed to get the direction of water flow correct.

The solution for a troublesome anti-syphon valve is to remove its innards and direct the stream of water which then results either overboard or to a cockpit drain.

Unlikely to block but with a visible "pee stream" you are able to see that it hasn't.

See for example the type H valves from Vetus http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/06fa8bec#/06fa8bec/78

 

[sailorman]

Spent this afternoon replacing a faulty (leaking) copper "inverted U" anti syphon valve with a new Martec vacuum valve I had got 2 years ago - had put off doing previously, but leakage into the bilge over the weekend was a real pain so forced to act.

I have cleaned out the "U" copper one twice a year in fresh water but has leaked from the start - but this weekend it was 10l in the bilge for 3/4 hours of motoring - little wind and in wrong direction! I have tried to get a replacement for the 3/4 mil "rubber" membrane in it without success as I think it had got a bit hard - tried Halyard who seemed the obvious choice but did not have.

Has anyone had similar experience, also how good is the Martec one as a replacement? Was not too difficult to replace, but a bit fiddly. Needed to get the direction of water flow correct.

i made mine piddle into a cockpit drain ( in the cockpit) i can then see if there was an intake blockage & no silly valves to go wrong

 

[Tintin]

Mine has a short plastic thin dia tube that goes into a water bottle. It only dribbles a bit so gets emptied every few days.

 

[kyleview]

Mine has a short plastic thin dia tube that goes into a water bottle. It only dribbles a bit so gets emptied every few days.

My previous boat had this and worked fine - emptied every few weeks. This one had the tube into the bilge and has had a dribble from day one, but of late has got a lot worse. Thats even after cleaning the "U" in fresh water every few months, also replacing the rubber membrane twice. I just thought it was time to bite the bullet as I like a dry bilge. The new Martec one looks to be working just fine - time will tell.

Thanks all for the input.