Buzzin' in the bathroom

[Bruce and Jenna]

So suddenly I hear a buzzing sound from the vacuum breaker device under my lavatory, i.e. that metal gizmo in place of a vent stack in a house. It sounds like this: bzzzzzzzzz. I can feel some vibration, and a little bit of water leaks out of that area.

I assume I have some kinda back pressure that isn't getting through it. It started when I flushed out my gray and black water tanks. I just flushed ˜em again, but no real difference.

Is this thing broken? Or is there some way of restoring it to a quiet, efficient, and dry state?

It's always something. Actually, I'd be glad if it was only one something at a time.

[Bruce and Jenna]

So suddenly I hear a buzzing sound from the vacuum breaker device under my lavatory, i.e. that metal gizmo in place of a vent stack in a house. It sounds like this: bzzzzzzzzz. I can feel some vibration, and a little bit of water leaks out of that area.

I assume I have some kinda back pressure that isn't getting through it. It started when I flushed out my gray and black water tanks. I just flushed ˜em again, but no real difference.

Is this thing broken? Or is there some way of restoring it to a quiet, efficient, and dry state?

It's always something. Actually, I'd be glad if it was only one something at a time.

[rockintom]

I don't know a thing about the vacuum breaker other than what Workshop as put on the forum. I'm gonna take a shot from a common sense approach. Where is the leak coming from exactly? Apply water to the black flusher and come inside and take a look at the breaker. The top of the breaker appears like it threaded on mine. Is it tight. If that's not it, the breaker may cracked or leaking elsewhere, it may have to be replaced. Anyone else got any advice for Bruce?

[Workshop]

Bruce if the problem occured after you flushed your tank and if its the metal of the two its for the flush system and if it started after the flush occured, sounds like the valve is not seating properly.

Here's a photo I posted earlier on the two valves under most or some vanity sinks. The black plastic is for the drain vent system and the metal for the backflow system.



I would assume you do not keep water pressure or a hose connected on this line except when flushing the system and the hose connection inlet doesn't have a check valve in it.

Would only guess, not being able to see it, that its a Watts unit.

You might try taking the cap off and checking to make sure the valve is seatting and something isn't within the system keeping it from doing so.

This is from Watt's site on doing maintenance to the valve:

Anti-Siphon Vacuum Breaker____Typical Installation
Maintenance
1. Remove hood screws and lift off hood.
2. Turn off supply pressure and observe float drop to open air inlet.
3. If this does not occur or valve has been constantly discharging, remove bonnet.
4. Replace bonnet (seat) and float.
5. Reassemble (using lubricant sparingly on bonnet O-ring) and restore pressure.
6. Retest using steps 1 and 2.

This is Watts info on there valve. Under Installation Inst it shows a diagram and the above maintenance.

Not being there, sounds like it isn't seating and might need to be cleaned. I haven't had this problem nor taken my apart so.....The only pressure that should be on this line is when the hose is connected and it raises the disc?

Any other ideas. Hope something helped.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Thanks much Chris and Tom. I'll take it apart on Saturday. The noise stopped after about an hour, so it may be hard to see if something is wrong.

[rockintom]

Bruce...about 90% of the issues you come up with go away or can't be duplicated!

On this buzzin' noise...you sure it wasn't just a "bee in your bonnet?"

Just havin' fun so don't blow a fuse young man!

Keep us apprised of the noise, buddy. rock

[Bruce and Jenna]

I took off the cap. Nothin' in there that I could see way in back of the cabinet. At least I know how to take if off if it starts buzzin again.

Then one of the screws jumped stratight down into the access hole, crying BANZAIII!!! as it fell. Never to be seen again. Spent more time searching in vain for the screw than working on the valve. Another trip to Lowes in my future.

[rockintom]

Bruce,

'Bout time for an update! Are you still buzzin'?
rockin'

[Bruce and Jenna]

I heard it buzz briefly yesterday, but not since. Tough fixing a problem that won't stay still.

So I just sit in the bathroom all day, waiting, waiting, waiting. Take a swing of Metamucil, go back to waiting. But at least I'm a regular fella now.

If I ever get a chance to fix it, I'll letcha know.

[D and J]

are you sure you aren't hearing a buzz from the 12vdc power supply fan?? It is located kinda under the sink area (but is accessable from the basement)

ours makes some noise sometine.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Well, ain't we buzzin' about buzzin'!

Thanks. I'll check on that possibility the next time it sounds off. But I believe I had my hand on it while it was sounding off, rather than just listening to a general direction.

O'course it could be the fan also, singing in harmony. Well sure, I need a new electrical problem. Only have two plumbing and one exhaust fan now. Oh yeah, still waiting for the autoformer to return. Ha ha!

[Bruce and Jenna]

First time since last post it has buzzzed. Just to prove it to Rockin, I recorded a movie with sound, but I can't upload it anywhere.

Upon rereading these posts, I see it is the
Anti-Siphon Vacuum Breaker.


Started right after dumping gray and blackwater, like Chris suggested. This time I turned the city water supply off, drained the faucet, and turned the water back on. No more bzzz.

Last time I tried to take it apart, I lost one of the screws, and never did get the other one back on. So screw it. Work-around is too easy to bother with the real fix.

You gotta know when to hold 'em know when to fold 'em . In these situations, I always ask myself, "What would Johnny Cash do?".

[rjf7g]

You gotta know when to hold 'em know when to fold 'em . In these situations, I always ask myself, "What would Johnny Cash do?".[/QUOTE]

Johnny Cash or Kenny Rogers?

[rockintom]

OMG....a photo post without the edit of MM fixin' your pic. I'm impressed! Continous improvement!

I'm so confused.....is this the new vacuum breaker?....kewl! Who installed it for you? Did it fix it? I just noticed that our old V-B makes a weird noise when I have the sink full or almost full and then open the drain and when it gets about half way down, the weird noise starts....as the it gets near the bottom, the noise stops. The water drains so fast I just imagine the breaker is just doing it's job....don't know for sure....but as long as the thing drains really good....I ain't worrying 'bout this one. Thanks for listening to me out!!! Lord, I apoligize!