CQ#9 : “When all the water from my “Vacuum Valve” water bottle runs out on the cage floor, what has happened?
First, let’s start with the most obvious cause. Check to make sure that the gasket is still inside the cap and still flat. Some gaskets can slip out during washing. If the gasket is compressed, turn it over to expose a newer, flatter surface. Since the water didn’t leak out at first, we can assume that when filled and installed your bottle was damage free and functioning properly. There is only one way for water to leak out of a “Vacuum-Valve” bottle with the ball-bearing tip. The vacuum, once having formed, has been broken. For water to leak out, air must leak in. Please see Question #3 above to learn about Vacuum Valves. There are two obvious reasons for a vacuum to be canceled: water bottle damage, and is introduced debris. Water bottle damage is most often caused by 1): chewing pets opening a tiny hole in the bottle or cap that will allow the smallest amount of air to enter the bottle. This air entering the bottle cancels the vacuum seal, even if the hole is at the top of the water
