non-return valve - - returning !

[kds]

My cold water system relies on a non-return valve to stop the electric pump recycling water past the foot pump and back to the tank. Mine was put in new to a new system 2 years ago and has stopped working. It has seldom been called on to work - about half my sailing is day sailing - so I am suprised at its early failure. Replacing it is going to be a couple of hours struggle as I did not put it in the most sensible position in the first place. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Is this a normal life for this sort of item - /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif can they be fixed ?
Ken

 

[David2452]

Perhaps the fact that it is seldom used is at the heart of the seemingly premature failure, something of the nature of a non return valve should certainly have a longer service life than that.

When you get it out it may just be stuck from lack of use or have a bit of debris holding it open so that should be fixable.

 

[Robin]

I had exactly that problem on our last boat. The small Whale non-return valves fail often, sometimes a bit of algae or grit, too muck pressure from the hoseclips distorts the body in time enough to jam the innards etc. I learned in the end a) to put it in an accessible place b) to fit a ball valve either side so it could be removed without flooding the boat if the tank was full and c) to carry a spare, I think they only cost about £2.

 

[Ships_Cat]

If not already doing so I suggest using a good industrial one either reinforced plastic or, better, ss/brass/bronze - not one of the pleasure boat market cheap ones. They don't come with hose tails but hosetails are easy enough to find to screw into them.

John