Check valves are used primarily to prevent what?

Check valves are specifically designed to allow fluid to flow in one direction while preventing backflow. This function is crucial in various applications, such as water supply systems and pump operations, where it’s essential to maintain the intended flow path and avoid the complications that can arise from reverse flow. By ensuring that water does not flow in two directions, check valves help protect equipment, maintain system efficiency, and prevent potential contamination of the source water.

Priming, excessive pump pressure, and water hammer are important operational considerations in fluid dynamics and plumbing systems, but they do not describe the primary function of a check valve. Check valves do not regulate pressure directly; rather, they are concerned with the direction of flow. They also do not serve the purpose of priming pumps, which involves removing air to establish fluid flow, nor do they directly mitigate the effects of water hammer, which is a pressure surge that occurs when the flow of fluid in a pipe is suddenly stopped or redirected.