Herbie Overflow

[jvision]

I think I've got mine set up fine, but is there a way to Set-it-and-forget-it? I keep having to fiddle with the ball valve to keep the level up or down in my sump. The return end of the sump is about 12gal, but the levels fluctuate as much as 4-5" during the day.

[mark]

Does the display stay constant?

Easier to tune btw with a gate valve.

[untamed]

Originally Posted by jvision

I think I've got mine set up fine, but is there a way to Set-it-and-forget-it? I keep having to fiddle with the ball valve to keep the level up or down in my sump. The return end of the sump is about 12gal, but the levels fluctuate as much as 4-5" during the day.

They do tend to be fiddly...and I agree with whomever said that gate valves work better. Ball valves are better used for on/off applications. I frequently walk by and give one of the herbie gate valves a 1/32 or less rotation turn.

However...Are you saying that your sump is fluctuating 4-5" during the day? If that is the case, where do you think that 4"-5" of water is going? That would likely mess up your evaporative replacement system.

[brizzo]

Would it be best to install your gate valve at the lowest point you can? (lowest practical point) ... More pressure/volume up to the valve ??

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by nazerine

Would it be best to install your gate valve at the lowest point you can? (lowest practical point) ... More pressure/volume up to the valve ??

The gate valve placement doesnt matter. The gate is used to limit the flow out of the display to the point that the water level inside the overflow box is high enough not to make any noise falling but low enough not to go down the emergency drain.

[mseepman]

Yeah...therein lies my mistake...I didn't figure out the height thing properly...now the plumbing is "permanent" at least until I decide to empty the tank to fix it. I don't get much noise...less than my regular overflow...but still not completely silent because of my calculation error.

[jvision]

OK, so my problem is the ball-valve - I'll change it to a gate valve. Do they make 1.5" gate valves?
The fluctuation in my sump happens because the ball valve is either closed too much or open too much, and the pump either pumps out faster than it gets to the sump, or the sump fills faster than it can pump out.

[untamed]

Yes, they make 1.5" gate valves. They aren't too difficult to find.

Your explanation for the sump water level doesn't make sense, though. Is the water from the tank falling into an overflow box? Basically, the amount water that you pump INTO the display tank ALWAYS equals the amount that falls out. It just does.

If you are pumping 400gph into the display tank...and only getting 300gph back into the sump...your display tank would be overflowing!

The key to a Herbie is the fact that a given pipe size will actually handle a variable maximum amount dependent on the water pressure behind it. So if you dial back your Herbie valve, the water in your overflow box should start to rise....but it won't rise forever...as the water behind the valve rises, more pressure is exerted which forces more water down the pipe. This hits equilibrium and the water height behind the valve stays constant.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by jvision

OK, so my problem is the ball-valve - I'll change it to a gate valve. Do they make 1.5" gate valves?
The fluctuation in my sump happens because the ball valve is either closed too much or open too much, and the pump either pumps out faster than it gets to the sump, or the sump fills faster than it can pump out.

Could you post pics of you overflow and plumbing? Sorry mseepman if we are taking over your thread, but this will be a good read for peeps wanting to do a herbie style overflow. Properly set up a herbie should be silent and fail safe.

Doug.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by jvision

I think I've got mine set up fine, but is there a way to Set-it-and-forget-it? I keep having to fiddle with the ball valve to keep the level up or down in my sump. The return end of the sump is about 12gal, but the levels fluctuate as much as 4-5" during the day.

Replace the ball valve with a gate. If you are seeing that much fluctuation I am assuming that it is due to the rising and falling level in the overflow caused by the inaccurate adjustment of the ball valve. Either that or you are having some serious evaporation happening. Gate valves are minutely adjustable and allow for the fine tuning required to maintain the proper water level in the overflow.

Doug.