My computer updated when I was responding to great response I got from those kind enough to help and I lost everything. I'm starting over again. Sorry. A bleeder-valve to let air into water line was placed under second-floor vanity in bathroom to feed the 16 inch frost-free facet in the garage. We could not find the valve to use garden hose and builder told us it was under the vanity, but did not explain to us that there was a bleeder. We opened the valve, watered new law, next day the bottom floor was flooded out with extensive damage. The plumber had the frost-free valve shut, which is good, but the bleeder-valve open, so I estimate that the water backed up all the way to our upstairs vanity and leaked water? Questions:
Should a bleeder-valve leak?
Do you even need a bleeder valve if there is a frost-free facet installed?
Should a second-floor bathroom even be used to feed an outdoor facet?
Should a bleeder-valve be installed horizontal instead of vertical? Ours is vertically installed and on a 45 degree upward slope.
Also, I would like to add that the plumber connected to the water supply to the upstairs bathroom with 60 psi of pressure coming from the pressure tank in the downstairs utility room. Wouldn't 60 psi be sufficient enough to drain water from the line without a bleeder-valve anyway? And, would the 60 psi cause the bleeder valve to leak or malfunction?
One more issue: The sewage coming from our house goes through a 4 inch PVC pipe, through the utility room wall, and out to the septic system. Against the utility room wall, about three feet off the floor, is a plug? If the sewage was to back-up in our tank and we were to open the plug, the sewage would come into the house. Wouldn't it be better to have a shut-off valve instead of a plug–then you could close the valve and get the septic tank pumped-out. And, wouldn't it be better still, to have a shut-off valve mechanism outside of the house rather than on the inside?
I would like to thank all responders in advance. Your input is greatly appreciated.
Best Answer
IMHO:
In this case, a bleeder valve is used to protect outdoor faucets from damage during freezing weather.
Pre-winter, you turn off water to the outdoor faucet, you open the outdoor faucet and then open the bleeder valve to let the water drain out.
In the summer, you close the bleeder valve, you close the outdoor faucet and then turn on water to the outdoor faucet, restoring it to normal use.
I'm guessing you had the outdoor faucet replaced with one that keeps the valve portion inside the house (where it's warm) while the handle of the faucet is still outside.
They left the bleeder valve in place...but it was in the open position...oops.