October 2, 2012

Tip from the Field – Blow out your waterlines

Thanks to our distributor Ferguson Enterprises, we have a tip regarding the Ritchie valve that will help you with your new installation.

flush your waterline to prevent a drip in your ritchie valve

At times we have concerns from customers who notice a drip in their valve with their new installation. The majority of the time, this is caused by a small piece of debris that lodged itself in the valve, causing it to stay open. The Ritchie valves can handle a reasonable amount of debris, however small pebbles such as the one shown in the image below, are often the culprit in the malfunctioning valve. The small pebbles, which are too large for the valve orifice,  fall in the water line during installation and once the waterer is installed, lodge themselves in the valve.

A simple way to remedy this issue is to blow out the waterlines before you connect the waterer to the main line.  This is shown in the image below. This simple step can ensure that all debris in the line is removed prior to your complete installation and save you a headache later on.

In the case you notice a small drip in your valve with your new installation and would like to check for debris, visit our instructional page.  As always feel free to contact us at 800-747-0222 for assistance.

what blowing the waterlines out before installing your Ritchie waterer