Mystery screws.

[admiralandy]

I'm new to the forum, and equally new to plumbing.

I recently took on a low water pressure issue at work. We have a DI water system that shares a line to an industrial sink tap. Since it had been years since it was initially installed, I bought all new hardware and got the system replumbed without issue. Once I fired it back up I still had the same water pressure issue. I found, after removing the adapt a valve that there was a screw ( thread side facing out) in the cut-off valve. I buttoned it all back up, did my test and hey-presto, perfectly running. Today (day 2), I came into the same water pressure issue I initially had. Again, I removed the adapt a valve; another screw. The screws looked like they'd been around for a while, so I know it's none of the new hardware (and since none of the stuff I took off or replaced required any screws whatsoever). The issue, time being, is resolved, but I'm curious to know if anyone's run into this before, or what could be the source of the mystery screws.

 

[uplumb]

I work at a university and have a DI system as well.. I have never found a screw (or screws) in the lines..

I'm assuming there is a pump (or pumps) in the system?

If so, is there a vibration or clicking sound coming from the pump? I can only hope that those screws were not holding on the impeller...

If not, could have fallen in a tank or filter during cleaning or transit..

Short of that, I'm baffled..

 

[chukar]

I have found all sorts of items in systems on the potable side, a plastic pen, wood and metal shavings, a 11/16 nut,all kinds of crap normally I find them in screens on pumps, the name for them eludes me. During installs all sorts of materials makes it into pipes often it takes a while to work them out. I found a 2x4 once in a drain pipe from another trade, if I had to guess, it wasn't there when I installed the line.