Sipper valves in rat rack. what causes leaks?

[BILLB OKC]

....and what is the cure?
I just finished a 18 tub rack for rats with auto water system and most of the sippers leak.
Other than reurning them what is the cure. I have taken some of them apart and they are clean on the inside.
Can someone help?
thank you
Bill

[2kdime]

I dont breed rats but my guess would just be

Dirty or old worn out sippers

I know some of those "type" valves need a vacuum behind them to work properly, is that the type you have?

Might not be a bad idea to just order new ones...

[BAD Morphs]

They might just need to be adjusted. If you tighten the actual sipper part untill the leak stops it should be fine. Just turn the sipper part with a needle nose pliers as you hold the part that looks like a nut with either a cresent wrench or pliers. Give that a try.

[Tim Mead]

As said above,likely not tight enough,but not my choice of tools..
If their the vari flow model, that is how the vari flow works..

[broadude]

I have the automatic water system hooked up to a water valve control...I also have some racks hooked to a bucket system (I don't consider that automatic)...none of mine leak unless they are old and worn our or have been jammed by *@#$ing rats. After a few tubs of that..they don't do that anymore.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Unless they're completely brand new, replace the rubber gaskets, and clean them thoroughly. Clean the water lines, they can get a bacterial slime in them. Tighten the valves properly. If they still leak, they're junk.
Also, if you have them hooked up to a pressurized water system rather than gravity feed, most valves aren't designed for that.