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View Full Version : Proper way to "charge" new shower valves?


BillA127
Dec 3, 2007, 08:23 PM
Experts,

I recently installed a 3/4" mixing valve which then branches to three diverters for different shower heads. Each supply also has a 12" vertical dead-end pipe (forgot what they call these). Do I need to "charge" the valve in any particular way or can I just open the ball valves on the supply side?

Thanks,

Bill

letmetellu
Dec 3, 2007, 08:29 PM
I think the dead end 12" vertical pipe you refer to is an air chamber and it is there to cut down on water hammer. There is nothing you have to do at the present time to use these chambers but in the future you may have to turn the water off and drain them because water will work it's way into the chambers after a period.

BillA127
Dec 4, 2007, 12:26 PM
I think the dead end 12" vertical pipe you refer to is an air chamber and it is there to cut down on water hammer. There is nothing you have to do at the present time to use these chambers but in the future you may have to turn the water off and drain them because water will work it's way into the chambers after a period of time.


Thanks. What about flushing the valve prior to use? Do I need to open or install flushing ports so any debris in the line passes through?

Thanks

speedball1
Dec 4, 2007, 12:30 PM
It's not necessary to flush out the supplies or valve bodys on replacements unless you have a pressure/volume problem from the start. Good luck, Tom

BillA127
Dec 4, 2007, 05:57 PM
It's not necessary to flush out the supplies or valve bodys on replacements unless you have a pressure/volume problem from the start. Good luck, Tom

Speedball - Thanks. Does it make a difference that this is a new supply line I ran for a basement shower. Any need to flush new lines?