Plumbing question: air gap for water softener

[wh500special 2,184]

After two years of sort of working but periodically dripping on the floor, my hillbilly rig air gap on the stand pipe into which I drain my water softener needs to be updated to something legit. 
 

I was going to buy one of these things and put it on my 1-1/2” pvc standpipe.

https://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/plumbing-installation-repair/p-traps-drain-parts/plumb-pak-plastic-kitchen-sink-air-gap/6797355/p-1444450914806-c-9416.htm?tid=-7777016696143256045&ipos=3

 

 My question is, do these things leak, spray, drip, etc?

 

I know this sounds stupid and you wouldn’t  expect them to sell something that drizzles water, but my uncle had to remove a similar device because under certain undetermined circumstances he’d find a little puddle on the floor under his.  Maybe 5% of the time so never figured out what the deal was.   He ended up just plumbing it straight in and taking his chances on siphoning drain water back into the water softener…I don’t live that adventurously. 

 

my discharge comes from a 1/2” pipe and it has pretty good velocity at times.  My current setup works most of the time but not all the time.  I put a bucket under the trap and once in a while I find water in it after a regen.  It must be dependent on what’s happening with plumbing in the rest of the house, wind, moon phase, who’s president at the time, or godknowswhat. 
 

I’m also relocating my drain from the current location to a different spot since I plan to install something where that pipe is. So while I am at it I’m fussing with this air gap issue. 

thanks
 

Steve 

Edited July 2, 2022 by wh500special

[roadapples 6,983]

Never seen one before, but then I don't have a water softener...

[squonk 41,121]

It's basically used to keep crap from you drain backing into the softener. Dept. of Health item. If your main drain were to get clogged it would back up on the floor and stay out of your domestic water.

[Heatingman 971]

You dont need a specific designed air gap device.

 

Just need a actual air gap between the operating level of the trap at the base of the stand pipe, and drain from the softener.

 

code in most areas is 6” 

 

similar to a laundry discharge 

Edited July 2, 2022 by Heatingman

[Rick3478 428]

You often see a small pipe dangling inside a larger one open at the top.  I've never seen this particular part, and it's an odd looker, but yeah siphon prevention.  If you're getting water on the floor it did its job, but you may have a venting problem, inadequate slope, partial blockage, or other problem downstream.

[953 nut 55,260]

While living in Florida I made a separate drainage for the water softener to keep the salt out of the septic system. Just a  two foot by two foot by two foot hole with a five gallon bucket with several holes drilled in it as a surge tank and filled the hole with 1" - 1 1/2" gravel.

[wh500special 2,184]

Thanks for the replies. 
 

i was unclear about my actual question…was curious if anyone who had ever used one of these gizmos knew if they splashed water when the flow starts.  That initial blast of water is what makes me wonder.
 

my initial setup was just positioning the discharge line a few inches above the standpipe.  It would spurt out a bit of water.  That evolved into me making my own version of this thing.  Works better, but still spurts a little water out now and then.    
 

The book on my softener says it uses 2 gpm during regen and when it’s doing it it seems like that’s plausible.  But when it first starts there is a blast of water from when the valve opens.   That’s what I’m wondering if this will capture. 
 

I found them at menards and bought one of them.  I’ll give it a try and see what it does and report back.  I’m not super optimistic.  
 

Last resort Is to just upsize the discharge line significantly to slow the water down.  That would have probably been the smart thing to do from the beginning. 
 

steve

[squonk 41,121]

It just gives you a physical gap. If water comes out of it it's because the softener is draining water. Yes it can splash all over. It can be a struggle getting enough drain flow to handle a large amount like during a regeneration. I used to have to deal with a few hundred air gap drains in a hospital. Water cooled refrigeration equipment on multiple floors ect. All it takes is a clogged drain at the 2 nd floor for the 3rd floor ice machine to kick on and cause a flood

[wh500special 2,184]

I forgot to update this…

 

the air gap thingy seems to work pretty well.  When the softener first kicks on and water comes from the pipe there are a couple of drops that escape the window on each side (curse you, surface tension!).  Otherwise, all good. 
 

you shouldn’t install this directly next to your Picasso collection, but it could go just about anywhere else. 
 

Steve

Edited July 24, 2022 by wh500special