Question about check valve in horizontal installation of submersible

[CanadaErik]

Hi there:

So I am planning to draw water out of a river close to my cottage and purchased a 4 inch 1 hp submersible Sta-Rite Signature 2000 with a Franklin motor. I needed to mount it horizontally in the river since the river get's down to about 3 feet at low water in the summer. My question is, with the pump mounted horizontally, will the check valve in the pump work properly? I seem to be losing pressure and am pretty sure there is no leak in the poly.
Thanks,

 

[Valveman]

Check valves usually work fine on the side. But I prefer a spring loaded check valve, especially for these applications. If it is not spring loaded, add an additional spring loaded one right at the pump head before the pipe.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Sylvan]

Using a spring loaded check valve will cause even more friction loss (pressure drop)

 

[Reach4]

Using a spring loaded check valve will cause even more friction loss (pressure drop)

http://www.simmonsmfg.com/index.php/our-products/check-valves/check-valve-stemless/
The graph seems to show about 1 PSI drop at 15 GPM for a 1-1/4 check valve.

The Apollo ball cone check valves (they have a spring too) seem to have much less pressure drop. http://www.apollovalves.com/_literature/cat_PHBRCHV.pdf says the 61LF-106-01 1-1/4 inch check valve claims only a 1 PSI drop at 44 GPM.

It would be interesting to compare others.

 

[Valveman]

A pound or two of friction loss is not going to make any difference for a pump than can build 100+ PSI and works at 50 PSI or so.