Plenty of rain and higher temperatures this coming  week lads!

Just get out of the house and crack on.....🙂👍

Yes — this is a fairly common (and annoying) issue with multi-motor gutter vacs, and it’s usually not actually water-related at all.

What’s happening is almost certainly airflow/pressure related, not moisture.

Why the water shut-off valve is triggering

That “water stop” (float valve) is designed to rise when airflow drops or pressure changes, not just when water enters. When you run 2 or 3 motors, a few things can cause the float to lift:

1. Too much suction / pressure imbalance

When multiple motors engage:

Air is being removed faster than it can enter

A partial vacuum forms inside the barrel

This pressure difference can lift the float valve, even bone-dry

This is by far the most common cause.

2. Insufficient airflow into the drum

Even without blockages, this can happen if:

The hose diameter is too small

The inlet port is restrictive

Filters or mesh screens are partially clogged

The lid seal is too airtight

More motors = more demand for air.
If the system can’t feed them, the float reacts as if the barrel is “full”.

3. Float valve sticking or becoming over-sensitive

After months of use:

Dust, fine debris, or moisture residue can make the float move too freely

The guide shaft can become sticky or misaligned

The float may be slightly warped

This makes it trip early, especially under high suction.

4. Filter restriction (even if it looks clean)

Fine dust can clog filters invisibly.
With one motor it’s OK — with two or three, airflow drops enough to trigger the float.

Things you can check / try (in order)
✅ 1. Run it with the lid slightly cracked

Just as a test.

If the problem disappears → airflow restriction confirmed

✅ 2. Inspect and clean the float assembly

Remove the lid

Take out the float

Clean the shaft and housing

Make sure it drops freely under its own weight

No oil or grease — dry only.

✅ 3. Check for airflow restrictions

Hose kinks

Narrow adapters

Blocked inlet

Internal baffles clogged with fine dust

Even a 10–20% restriction can trigger this with multiple motors.

✅ 4. Check or temporarily remove the filter (test only)

Run briefly without the filter

If it behaves normally → replace or deep-clean the filter

✅ 5. Reduce motor staging

Some gutter vacs:

Aren’t designed to run all motors simultaneously

Expect staged airflow or larger hoses when using multiple motors

Manufacturers don’t always make this clear.

That’s a good  AI reply 😂

Yes — this is a fairly common (and annoying) issue with multi-motor gutter vacs, and it’s usually not actually water-related at all.

What’s happening is almost certainly airflow/pressure related, not moisture.

Why the water shut-off valve is triggering

That “water stop” (float valve) is designed to rise when airflow drops or pressure changes, not just when water enters. When you run 2 or 3 motors, a few things can cause the float to lift:

1. Too much suction / pressure imbalance

When multiple motors engage:

Air is being removed faster than it can enter

A partial vacuum forms inside the barrel

This pressure difference can lift the float valve, even bone-dry

This is by far the most common cause.

2. Insufficient airflow into the drum

Even without blockages, this can happen if:

The hose diameter is too small

The inlet port is restrictive

Filters or mesh screens are partially clogged

The lid seal is too airtight

More motors = more demand for air.
If the system can’t feed them, the float reacts as if the barrel is “full”.

3. Float valve sticking or becoming over-sensitive

After months of use:

Dust, fine debris, or moisture residue can make the float move too freely

The guide shaft can become sticky or misaligned

The float may be slightly warped

This makes it trip early, especially under high suction.

4. Filter restriction (even if it looks clean)

Fine dust can clog filters invisibly.
With one motor it’s OK — with two or three, airflow drops enough to trigger the float.

Things you can check / try (in order)
✅ 1. Run it with the lid slightly cracked

Just as a test.

If the problem disappears → airflow restriction confirmed

✅ 2. Inspect and clean the float assembly

Remove the lid

Take out the float

Clean the shaft and housing

Make sure it drops freely under its own weight

No oil or grease — dry only.

✅ 3. Check for airflow restrictions

Hose kinks

Narrow adapters

Blocked inlet

Internal baffles clogged with fine dust

Even a 10–20% restriction can trigger this with multiple motors.

✅ 4. Check or temporarily remove the filter (test only)

Run briefly without the filter

If it behaves normally → replace or deep-clean the filter

✅ 5. Reduce motor staging

Some gutter vacs:

Aren’t designed to run all motors simultaneously

Expect staged airflow or larger hoses when using multiple motors

Manufacturers don’t always make this clear.

Took Monday off worked Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday. Snow almost gone round here now so here's hoping for a snow free week.

Any idea why my gutter vac keeps triggering the water stop feature thing, as soon as more than one motor is used?

As soon as I use 2 motors, let alone 3, the water shut off valve flys up as if to prevent water going into the motors, even though there is no water in the barrel.

It’s been like this for months, I’ve been meaning to ask.