I just got a chance to make the first test run of my system since drilling drains and firing up the basement sump. I have two overflow boxes, opposite side of the tank, the drains are 1", and the return rate is like 375 - 400gph. The two drain lines are setup a little differently, so I'll do my best to explain them...
They both have...
90* elbow facing down --> 1" bulkhead --> tee w/drilled hole endcap. --> differing 1" drain lines
The 'good' side goes...
straight down, 90* to the right, 90* down and follows the same route as the bad one from there on into the basement.
The 'bad' side goes...
straight down into the basement. Does not have the 'L' shape like the good side.
The good side behaves like it should, with the drilled hole endcap or the endcap removed, it's just a gravity drain. If I put my finger over the hole, a siphon forms and it sucks down the line hella fast. Furthermore, under normal operating conditions, the water level in the overflow box stays constant somewhere in the middle between the tank level and the drain line. ALL as expected behavior.
OKAY, all that said, here's the issue. The bad side... Holding my finger over the hole in the endcap forms a complete siphon, so that's normal. BUT with either the drilled hole endcap or endcap removed, the thing acts freakin bizzare. First of all, even though I figured it'd be able to drain faster because of less resistance (compared to the 'good' side), the water level in this overflow box stays damn close to the water level in the tank, not down ~2" like on the 'good' side. Beyond that, even with the endcap removed, the line still forms partial siphons intermittently. I can't understand how it's happening because 1" diameter of air can get in the top of the tee with the cap removed, but it'll back off, then go nuts, the back off, etc.
My only guess is it has to do with how the lines are setup... the good side falls 3', laterals 3', then falls another 3' into the basement ceiling... while the 'bad' side falls down all 6' in one fell swoop. Possibly, this increases velocity of the water causing more pulling power? Bottom line, the system works, it's just a major annoyance... I'm at a loss and up for any suggestions or ideas. If you've stuck with me to the end, I'm truly impressed... and thanks :lol:
They both have...
90* elbow facing down --> 1" bulkhead --> tee w/drilled hole endcap. --> differing 1" drain lines
The 'good' side goes...
straight down, 90* to the right, 90* down and follows the same route as the bad one from there on into the basement.
The 'bad' side goes...
straight down into the basement. Does not have the 'L' shape like the good side.
The good side behaves like it should, with the drilled hole endcap or the endcap removed, it's just a gravity drain. If I put my finger over the hole, a siphon forms and it sucks down the line hella fast. Furthermore, under normal operating conditions, the water level in the overflow box stays constant somewhere in the middle between the tank level and the drain line. ALL as expected behavior.
OKAY, all that said, here's the issue. The bad side... Holding my finger over the hole in the endcap forms a complete siphon, so that's normal. BUT with either the drilled hole endcap or endcap removed, the thing acts freakin bizzare. First of all, even though I figured it'd be able to drain faster because of less resistance (compared to the 'good' side), the water level in this overflow box stays damn close to the water level in the tank, not down ~2" like on the 'good' side. Beyond that, even with the endcap removed, the line still forms partial siphons intermittently. I can't understand how it's happening because 1" diameter of air can get in the top of the tee with the cap removed, but it'll back off, then go nuts, the back off, etc.
My only guess is it has to do with how the lines are setup... the good side falls 3', laterals 3', then falls another 3' into the basement ceiling... while the 'bad' side falls down all 6' in one fell swoop. Possibly, this increases velocity of the water causing more pulling power? Bottom line, the system works, it's just a major annoyance... I'm at a loss and up for any suggestions or ideas. If you've stuck with me to the end, I'm truly impressed... and thanks :lol:
