How to stop water bottle from dripping?

[jimmywalt]

We have 18 holes each with it's own 32oz water bottle.

Early on we figured out that unless the water bottle is filled with room temp water, it will drip. So we always make sure when refilling that we use the same temp water that the rabbit area is, and we fill them too.

Recently we have had a couple that are starting to drip. I'm wondering what can be done to fix that problem?

I have successfully used pipe cleaners to clean inside the tube where the ball resides, in case there was something inside that was preventing a good seal.

Wondering what you all have done to rejuvenate your bottles? Wondering if soaking the tube/stainless steel ball part in warm soapy water would make them like new again.

Suggestions please.

Thank you!

 

[Truckinguy]

I've found that the water bottle will drip for a minute or so until it creates a vacuum in the bottle and then stop. They don't all do it, usually one will do it from time to time. I"ve never had one drip constantly until it's dry. Mine are out in the colony and can drip in all temperatures but usually only for a minute or so.

 

[ArcticWolfLady]

I've had a water bottle drip before.

I had to go out and buy a new one, becuase the straw and hay in the bottom of my cage was getting wet and threatening to rot. I placed a log underneath the bottle to stop it from dripping onto the straw and hay. But I had one that when they licked it, it came out.
Maybe yours was stuck? :?

 

[Silver Cloud]

We use only these bottles no drips and some of ours are 2 to 3 years old as well as some new ones. We just take top off for filling rather than flip it open just thought I'd mention that (so top doesn't wear out), http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/l ... alve-32-oz

 

[Homer]

..Wondering what you all have done to rejuvenate your bottles? Wondering if soaking the tube/stainless steel ball part in warm soapy water would make them like new again.

I've not had much luck with soapy water unless there is just some dirt in the tube keeping the ball from closing correctly.

Some of my 3-4 year old bottles (if the spouts last that long) will start dripping because of our hard water. You get a calcium build up in the tube that keeps the ball from sealing. I take the top and put it in a small bowl of CLR (brand name for calcium, lime and rust remover)for about 30 minutes and it eats the hard water deposits out of them. Rinse well under hot tap water and they work like new. Before you do that though look for a small crack in the top/spout (usually on the seam). If air has a way into the bottle it's toast.