The drain water is not brine water. That would be the recharge water from a water softener. RO systems do not use salt. The firetruck drawing water does not and would not cause a reverse pressure on the neighborhood water supply. The concern is earthquakes. Airgaps are a California concept. The municipal water system can lose pressure and even develop reverse pressure/flow from a break in the system. These are mainly theoretical concerns. There would need to be a clogged and backed up drain at the same time there is an open valve at the same time there is a reversal of flow/pressure in the water system.
t@@MattSteelblade Yes, If the RO system is used for desalination. Or, a water softener is releasing brine into the water system and the RO is removing excess salt from the water softener. Normally, the discharge is called concentrate because it contains the small amount of brine plus the other concentrates.
I simply replaced the air gap with a standard non-air gap faucet. The air gap ones are useless and they can almost never be fixed by "cleaning" the drain hose. The faucet itself clogs up with other gummy sediments. They only create a vacuum break IN CASE of back-flow. It almost never happens. I repeat: Replace the air gap with a non air gap. The extra price is worth it - all those tiny cheap air gap faucets are crap and don't last. Look at all the complaints people have here. Stay away from air gap faucets! And just run the drain line direct to drain. Install a back flow (check) valve if you want.
Hi, I have a faucet with air gap. very often (once in 2 to 3 days) around one cup or more water is throne out from the faucet. wondering what is wrong? is it the air gap or it is not connected properly.
Very simple yet elegant explanation. Thank you! I have 2 issues I hope you can help me with: 1) there is a slow leak at the base of the air gap faucet. It appears to be coming from the clean water line where it connects to the faucet. Can I fix it with a new washer or something else or will I need to replace the faucet? 2) My RO system makes a constant breathing noise. Is that normal or not? How do I get it quiet if it should be? I would appreciate any help you can be. Thank you.
Orlando Corona I would suggest checking the lines and seeing if it is actually the line that is causing the leak instead of the faucet itself. and regarding your RO system the breathing noise is normal.Thank you!
I used to have a no Air Gap Hole faucet, it broke. I got a new one with the Air Gap Hole. I connected accordingly. Then, once a while, the Air Gap Hole generates a strange sound like draining/bubbling, which is quite loud and annoying. Please advise me how to solve this problem?
Can this be used as a replacement to your traditional dishwasher air gap? I have a RO system but I do not want to drill any more holes in my new countertop. Can't this be tied into the drain lines somehow?
The air gap is required to be ABOVE the flood level rim of the fixture it is serving (UPC Table 603.2). Your suggestion would violate this requirement because the flood level rim is the counter top or the top of the fixture when the fixture is self rimming.
Section 611.2 of the Uniform Plumbing Code requires the discharge (brine or waste) from a drinking water treatment unit enter the building drain through an air gap or an air gap fitting. The purpose is to protect the potable water from contamination from the drain contents in the event of a stoppage where the waste could rise in the discharge line through the unit and then contact the potable supply. The same protection is required for any device connected to a potable source and a drain.
Thanks for your helpful videos! I have a similar problem you might have some insight about: We just installed a new RO system and water is leaking out of the air gap. The black line goes straight down into the drain without any loops or kinks, drain is new and clean, & all connections are good. The leak happens even/especially when we shut the valve from the supply line into the RO system, the tank is not full, and we do not drain the water out. Does that sound normal to you?
Anna Popiel The Air-Gap faucet should not be making any noise unless there is a lot of air in your pipes.Is the faucet dispensing water when it is making this noise?
I love these RUclips home repair videos! Great job except that I have no idea what the Osmosis system is or does. I don.t see those tanks under my sink!
The tanks should be in your basement if you have one. I've never seen an under sink cabinet that had room for them plus all the crap wives like to stash under there.
They also sell inexpensive kits that easily convert a non-air gap faucet into an air-gap faucet. You're right, the selection of air-gap faucets is really weak.
I'm really not sure what else I can say that hasn't already been said in the video. One line is good water (to the threaded stem) and two are reject drain water (one in and one out).
@12quillemall5321 You may have developed an air lock in the drain line, or the plunging may have forced something into the drain line, thus blocking it either completely or partially. The drain line out of the faucet TO the actual drain needs to be completely free of blockage.
@jman1863 This is typical. It takes time to work the air out of the lines. Air in the drain line exiting the air-gap faucet will cause the weep hole to leak. Sounds like everything is good now though.
@aquamanwisdom You're exactly right. Unfortunately I replaced the RO Drinking faucet for nothing. While replacing it I found a crimp in the drain line. Gosh, you're good. Subbing for the sake of my RO system :)
Thank you for the simplicity and the clarity of your presentation. I very much appreciate it.
The drain water is not brine water. That would be the recharge water from a water softener. RO systems do not use salt. The firetruck drawing water does not and would not cause a reverse pressure on the neighborhood water supply.
The concern is earthquakes. Airgaps are a California concept. The municipal water system can lose pressure and even develop reverse pressure/flow from a break in the system. These are mainly theoretical concerns. There would need to be a clogged and backed up drain at the same time there is an open valve at the same time there is a reversal of flow/pressure in the water system.
t@@MattSteelblade Yes, If the RO system is used for desalination. Or, a water softener is releasing brine into the water system and the RO is removing excess salt from the water softener. Normally, the discharge is called concentrate because it contains the small amount of brine plus the other concentrates.
What is that plastic screw-on connector called to attach the water from the RO system to the bottom of the threaded faucet base?
I simply replaced the air gap with a standard non-air gap faucet. The air gap ones are useless and they can almost never be fixed by "cleaning" the drain hose. The faucet itself clogs up with other gummy sediments. They only create a vacuum break IN CASE of back-flow. It almost never happens. I repeat: Replace the air gap with a non air gap. The extra price is worth it - all those tiny cheap air gap faucets are crap and don't last. Look at all the complaints people have here. Stay away from air gap faucets! And just run the drain line direct to drain. Install a back flow (check) valve if you want.
what is the fitting / connector that hooks up to the blue line? Thanks
Hi, I have a faucet with air gap. very often (once in 2 to 3 days) around one cup or more water is throne out from the faucet. wondering what is wrong? is it the air gap or it is not connected properly.
Very simple yet elegant explanation. Thank you! I have 2 issues I hope you can help me with: 1) there is a slow leak at the base of the air gap faucet. It appears to be coming from the clean water line where it connects to the faucet. Can I fix it with a new washer or something else or will I need to replace the faucet? 2) My RO system makes a constant breathing noise. Is that normal or not? How do I get it quiet if it should be? I would appreciate any help you can be. Thank you.
Orlando Corona I would suggest checking the lines and seeing if it is actually the line that is causing the leak instead of the faucet itself. and regarding your RO system the breathing noise is normal.Thank you!
I used to have a no Air Gap Hole faucet, it broke. I got a new one with the Air Gap Hole. I connected accordingly. Then, once a while, the Air Gap Hole generates a strange sound like draining/bubbling, which is quite loud and annoying. Please advise me how to solve this problem?
Thank you for this video. Every plumbing associate at Home Depot and Lowes needs to watch this video...
What's the name of the connector used to the connect the main water line tube to the center threaded stem?
also if your sewer drain outlet for the kitchen sink clogs, the sewer water won't make it's way back into the RO drinking system with the airgap.
Can this be used as a replacement to your traditional dishwasher air gap? I have a RO system but I do not want to drill any more holes in my new countertop. Can't this be tied into the drain lines somehow?
jayjarch I would check with a local plumber to verify that they are able to do this for you.
The air gap is required to be ABOVE the flood level rim of the fixture it is serving (UPC Table 603.2). Your suggestion would violate this requirement because the flood level rim is the counter top or the top of the fixture when the fixture is self rimming.
Section 611.2 of the Uniform Plumbing Code requires the discharge (brine or waste) from a drinking water treatment unit enter the building drain through an air gap or an air gap fitting. The purpose is to protect the potable water from contamination from the drain contents in the event of a stoppage where the waste could rise in the discharge line through the unit and then contact the potable supply. The same protection is required for any device connected to a potable source and a drain.
Thanks for your helpful videos! I have a similar problem you might have some insight about: We just installed a new RO system and water is leaking out of the air gap. The black line goes straight down into the drain without any loops or kinks, drain is new and clean, & all connections are good. The leak happens even/especially when we shut the valve from the supply line into the RO system, the tank is not full, and we do not drain the water out. Does that sound normal to you?
I have an Air-Gap faucet and its very loud air sound from the hole on the faucet. is it any way to reduce the sound?
Anna Popiel The Air-Gap faucet should not be making any noise unless there is a lot of air in your pipes.Is the faucet dispensing water when it is making this noise?
What would happen if you cover the air gap hold with your finger?
How do you release any hose? They won't release.
I ordered the wrong type of replacement faucet... Gotta get the air gap faucet... Thank you so much
Thanks for explaining this. It was tremendously helpful!
Great informative video. Thank you for this!
I love these RUclips home repair videos! Great job except that I have no idea what the Osmosis system is or does. I don.t see those tanks under my sink!
The tanks should be in your basement if you have one. I've never seen an under sink cabinet that had room for them plus all the crap wives like to stash under there.
You missed your Calling, You should have a been teacher. Many thanks for the great lesson.
They also sell inexpensive kits that easily convert a non-air gap faucet into an air-gap faucet. You're right, the selection of air-gap faucets is really weak.
I'm really not sure what else I can say that hasn't already been said in the video. One line is good water (to the threaded stem) and two are reject drain water (one in and one out).
Thank you for this video.
@12quillemall5321 You may have developed an air lock in the drain line, or the plunging may have forced something into the drain line, thus blocking it either completely or partially. The drain line out of the faucet TO the actual drain needs to be completely free of blockage.
@jman1863 This is typical. It takes time to work the air out of the lines. Air in the drain line exiting the air-gap faucet will cause the weep hole to leak. Sounds like everything is good now though.
Thank you
You're welcome
@aquamanwisdom You're exactly right. Unfortunately I replaced the RO Drinking faucet for nothing. While replacing it I found a crimp in the drain line. Gosh, you're good. Subbing for the sake of my RO system :)
Great stuff brother thanks.