I replaced the hand-held shower head and its hose in our bathroom the other day. There was a part between the female end of the shower hose and the male fitting projecting from the wall. I removed it, installed the new shower head, and everything works fine.
Today, after a fair amount of internet searching, I discovered that the part I removed is a vacuum breaker. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one as part of a shower like this in any of our previous homes. So, the question really is that simple; do I need to put it back? What negative consequences might there be due to its removal?
I would have expected it to be something to further control/diminish the flow of water, because that seems to be the main goal of plumbing these days. (okay, sarcasm, but only just).
I had to look up what a vacuum breaker is: it seems to be something to prevent backflow of contaminated water into the water supply when the water pressure drops for any reason. The AI answer bot says that it is necessary, and is often required by code. Possibly because the hose is long enough for the shower head to end up on the floor, possibly submerged when waste water backs up from the drain.
What state is the OP in? (ETA: his profile location says NC.) Is this a single family home, an apartment, or what? Rented or owned? How old?
Point being a vacuum breaker might be completely unnecessary but installed by some prior worrywart. Or it might be required by code. Which would still mean it’s 99% functionally unnecessary in a belt and suspenders way.
It’s also possible the OP has misidentified the part and it was a flow restrictor, not a breaker. Or was both, but was installed by [whoever] for its restrictive qualities, not the breaking quality. No way for us to evaluate that.
I’m not trying to threadshit. Just pointing out it’s not quite as open and shut as it might appear. The more info we get the more the real experts can indeed provide a fully factual answer.
No threadshitting detected here. Those are all good points.
You are correct - we are in NC. Single-family home, owned, 13 years old. I am all but certain it is a vacuum breaker based on appearance and a part number inside it; specifically this one.
…and, yeah, it looks like it’s required by code. NC Plumbing Code section 2007 (b) - BACKFLOW reads, in part,
Approved backflow preventers or vacuum breakers must be used with any supply fixture, the outlet end of which may at times be submerged, such as hose and spray, direct flush valve and under-rim water supply connections to a plumbing fixture or receptacle in which the surface of the water is exposed at any time to atmospheric pressure. Every flushometer valve shall be equipped with an approved vacuum breaker.
So - I guess I’m putting a vacuum breaker back in. Don’t know why I didn’t do a simple Google search on the plumbing code before. Maybe I didn’t have enough coffee today.
Thanks, everyone!
I love it when a plan comes together. Thanks for the follow-up.
If the hose on the handshower is short enough to not reach a credible depth of water in the tub you may still not need one. OTOH, the only place I encounter hand shower hoses that short are in hotels.
I have a plenty long handshower hose. That I installed in my rented apartment in place of the standard fixed shower head. Now you’ve got me curious to learn about Florida plumbing codes. I may need one too.
ETA: I found the relevant Florida code but it’s incomprehensible to laymen. More digging suggests the requirement for backflow prevention on handshowers is common to many states. Including FL. Time for a Lowes run.
