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Air Bubbles in the Soap Supply Line

Rfreeman

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Hey guys so I have air getting into my soap supply line that runs into the hydrominder. This is on a Jim Coleman Super Saver system and I have uploaded a video at the link below. This air getting into the supply lines doesn't allow the soap to immediately enter the hydrominder when activated which ends up over diluting the soap and water mixture in the tank. I made a hole already in line going into the tank about an inch above the water line but that doesn't seem to have fixed the problem. I also checked the foot/check valve into the soap bucket and its clear of debris and working properly. Any thoughts?

 

MEP001

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The hole in the discharge tube keeps water from siphoning back to your bucket if the foot valve goes bad, but it will still siphon air. The best way I know of to test the foot valve is to pop the screen off, rinse it really well (Car wash soap doesn't taste as good as it smells), then blow through it both ways several times. I just had one go bad that seemed fine the first couple times I blew through the barb end, but it quit seating after that.
 

Greg Pack

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I've had a lot of brand new bad hydro foot valves lately. Also make sure that you chemical line is still supple. Once it gets stiff it can fail to seal well around the foot valve barb.
 

I.B. Washincars

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Also make sure that you chemical line is still supple. Once it gets stiff it can fail to seal well around the foot valve barb.
What Greg says. Methanol foam brush soap makes the hose harder than a wedding night...cake. On that particular chemical, I always made sure that I started the winter with a new hose and FV.
 

Rfreeman

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Hey guys thanks for the replies. It ended up being a bad foot like you all mentioned thanks!

@MEP yeah I found out about the soap on this time. I washed it or thought I had washed it thoroughly only to get a solid taste of soap when I went to check it.

@Greg so I installed all new foot vales at this location as part of a rehab and this one appears to have gone bad already. I actually installed 2 new ones because the first new one I replaced started doing the same thing right out of bag but the second one seems to be holding well.
 

mikemo81

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I'm having the same issue with foot valves being bad right out of the bag. Does anyone know of reliable foot valve? May be worth paying a little extra since basically paying too much already when half the valves are already bad.
 

Greg Pack

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I'm having the same issue with foot valves being bad right out of the bag. Does anyone know of reliable foot valve? May be worth paying a little extra since basically paying too much already when half the valves are already bad.

Ive been trying these the past few weeks. So far, so good.

maybe a viton model?:
 

mikemo81

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Ive been trying these the past few weeks. So far, so good.

maybe a viton model?:
I just found the first foot valve this morning which you referenced! Will check it out. Thanks.
 

MEP001

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Kar B Kleen

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For what it's worth, I recently purchased 12 new hydrominders that came with the blue foot valves already installed on the pick up tube. Found 2 that I thought was defected, but after futher investigation I discovered the leak was coming from the hose connection on the valve, caused by the spring clamp being an oval shape instead of being round. Assume during assembly at the factory it was squeezed by something giving it a slight oval shape thus causing an air leak where it connects to the stem of the valve.
 

MEP001

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I've had the same issue. Six Hydrominders changed out over a few months and the first few leaked around the barb, same with new suction tube assemblies. I now put a zip tie really tight around the hose at the barb in place of the metal ring. I think it's all quality control issues with the foot valves.
 
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