Check valves

[distancerunner]

Some of the folks who use vacuum bottling systems talk about using a check valve. How do they work? Where can we find a check valve for a 3/8" line?

 

[Jim Welch]

Google found many, including this:

https://www.amazon.com/ANPTGHT-Check-Return-Resistance-Plastic/dp/B08SC4F8MF

 

[Jim Welch]

So those ones on Amazon I linked to may or may not be food grade, I’d check your local LHBS if you have one, Grainger, or McMaster for them.

 

[Rice_Guy]

The ones I have come from Granger. I have both polysulfone and nylon, most of what I have are 1/4 inch. This works well on a variety of tubing, if I am using one on a cork I slip 1/4 ID silicone tubing over as an adapter. Granger also had 3/8.

How they work? Typical construction is a stainless ball that hits a vitron sealing surface. There is a small spring which presses the ball and determines the cracking pressure. For wine I have the lowest cracking pressure I can get. Theoretically the spring and sealing surface could gum up, I flush with water and then distilled.