How to Surge & Swap on Well Control

Surge control valves, also sometimes referred to as check valves, cushion water flow on most domestic water pumps. Modern high pressure domestic pump systems can experience enough pressure to initiate a shock to valves or fittings when the water is shut off suddenly. On this type of system, a surge control or check valve is installed to cushion the shock. If you feel a thump, or hear an audible clunk when you shut off the water, you may need to swap out the valve.

Pipe wrench
Teflon tape
Surge control valve

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the power supply to the pump. Turn on the water in the bathtub and let the water drain from the system until no water comes out of the tub from the hot and cold water valves when they are open.
- 2
  Trace the water line coming up from the floor, before it enters any pressure tanks or switches. There will be a "T" up from the floor. On one side of the "T" there will be a bulbous fitting; its the only one with a roundish shape. This is the surge control valve. It can be on either side of the "T."
- 3
  Remove the fittings from both sides of the surge valve using a pipe wrench. Swing them away from you at a 30-degree angle. Turn the surge control valve counterclockwise using the pipe wrench until it comes off.
- 4
  Wrap the threads on all three sides of the "T" with two layers of Teflon tape where the valve connects onto the fittings. You only need to wrap the threads 3/4 inch up from the bottom.
- 5
  Screw the new surge control valve onto the top of the pipe where the old one came off. Screw the other fittings on the other sides of the surge valve until tight using the pipe wrench.
- 6
  Close the hot and cold water valves in the tub. Turn the power back on to the pump.

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