Benze
New Member
A ball valve is NOT a precise method, since you do NOT know when it is "1/8 open" and even then it would be more than the 1/8" hole. The hole is a "fall back method" which I never used. I just mentioned it as an alternative way to maintain flow. The small hole will create more than enough "resistance" so that the water has an easier path going the "right way" to the faucet, thus backflow would be negligible at best, or worst.
Thanks for the explanation. I added a picture to my above post indicating how I am set up around the HW tank. I had to replumb my pex a little to put the valve in at 45dev, but at least now I can put it level if really needed. Ideally, I would rather avoid drilling a hole in the flap and trying to find a way around that. Unfortunately, I found out that they don't have 22.5 elbows in 3/4CU, and the only way to accomplish that would be to use some flex copper and bend it to fit. Problem is that they only sold flex 3/4 in 60' lengths, which is enormously too long for me.
I'll try putting it "level" and rotate the whole the Tee at the bottom of the tank counter-clockwise slightly to give it a slight pitch and let you know how it works.
Tx,
Eric