View Full Version : Water Control Question
icemanyurt
Apr 11, 2010, 07:27 PM
I am looking for a way to wire in a filtration system into my existing plumbing. But one of the things I don't want to do is to filter the entire house (its a one bedroom/one bath), and I only really care about the kitchen sink as it is the primary source of water.
I really don't want to have any sort of auxiliary faucet, cause that would just be clunky and ugly. What I think would be amazing is to have a foot controlled valve. The perfect setup is form the water source it leads to a splitter, with one side going to the filter and one going to a valve controlled by foot (with the filter tying into the valve afterwards).
Sadly I am not sure what this control system is called, any help would be great, thanks
speedball1
Apr 12, 2010, 05:28 AM
What I think would be amazing is to have a foot controlled valve. The perfect setup is form the water source it leads to a splitter, with one side going to the filter and one going to a valve controlled by foot (with the filter tying into the valve afterwards).
Sadly I am not sure what this control system is called, any help would be great, thanks
Look no farther. Click on:
Foot and knee valves for hand-wash sinks from FAMOUS PLUMBING SUPPLY (http://www.plumbingsupply.com/footandkneevalves.html)
For a selection. Good luck, Tom
KISS
Apr 12, 2010, 10:30 AM
Tom:
I doubt that product will do what he asks. He wants to divert a stream, not turn one off with a knee or foot.
It can be done with a 3-way electric valve and two check valves (back flow preventers).
The valves/switch could be low voltage such as 24 VAC with the addition of a transformer. 24 VAC wall warts are available.
EDIT: If the output is a single handle faucet, then at least a 2-way solenoid valve and check-valve is required or one has to make sure cold is selected.
I'd also make sure the faucet operates with the cold water stop valve shut off.
Note: Single lever faucets contain internal check valves so the hot and cold cannot contaminate or back-siphion one another.
Plumbing nightmare, but doable.
KISS
Apr 12, 2010, 02:55 PM
Anyway, assuming a single lever faucet, you would need:
One 3-way valve
2 check valves/back flow preventers
... (one additional one is in the faucet)
One 2-way NO, (2-way normally open valve)
....(shuts off the hot water supply)
Filter
Foot switch
... ( selected - current ratings/voltage/method)
... (Could even be a handicapped plate like switch that you could activate by your toe)
Strain relief for cord switch or connector
There are two ways to do the electrical side. One used low-voltage and the other 120 VAC. I's recommend the low-voltage approach and a connector to connect the switch.
The plumbing
Could use a 3-way valve with one port blocked for the two way valve. Just makes the parts the same.
You put a 2-way valve in the hot water between the stop and to the faucet. This would turn off the hot water. The check valve in the faucet prevents water from entering the segment.
Break the cold water pipe after the stop and before the filter. Insert a check valve in the cold water supply line. "T" to the inlet of the filter and in NO (Normall open) port of the 3-way valve.
The "T" will supply the input of the filter and the 3-way valve NO port.
On the output of the filter insert a check valve. Attach the other end of the check valve to the NO (Normally Open) of the 3-way valve.
Connect the COMMON port of the 3-way valve to the faucet.
Electrically, both valves are actuated by the switch. The hot water is closed, the street cold water is closed to the faucet and the filtered water is connected to the faucet.
The 3-way valve should be as close to the faucet as possible.