I finally got the old Otis hydro in the 1970s apartment building on Elm Street running smooth after three weeks of chasing a gremlin.

Brian Green · 2026-03-22T09:05:04.711187+00:00

Turns out the bypass valve had a tiny piece of gasket stuck in it from a repair job last month. Anyone else ever have a valve issue mimic a pump problem?

nancy3266mo ago

Read a service bulletin about that exact thing happening with those old valves.

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cora_mitchell6mo ago

Ever check the new gasket material before you install it? I had a cheap one flake apart and send bits everywhere. Now I always run my finger around the edge to feel for loose bits.

3

emma_baker616mo ago

Yeah I learned that the hard way too, now I always give it a quick wipe with a clean rag first.

8

harris.andrew6mo ago

Found a similar gasket shred in a flow control valve once.

1