Paravalve User's Guide

Straw cut guide

There is no need to cut your straw if using the Paravalve 2.0 straw with the 48 oz Nalgene Silo bottle. Most other bottles will need to have the straw cut to match the bottle depth. If you cut off too much, you won't be able to get all the liquid out using the straw, but it will otherwise work fine. If you don't cut off enough, the bottom of the straw will press against the bottom of the bottle and it will interfere with the free flow of liquid up the straw. Use this guide and any sharp knife to get the correct length for your bottle:

When done, the bottom opening of the straw should float just above the bottom of your bottle as shown below:

Not all bottles are the same: The shape of the bottom of your bottle may require an adjustment to your straw length. If you meet a lot of resistance when trying to suck on the spout, your straw may be too long and pressing against the bottom of the bottle, preventing free flow. You can test this by unscrewing the lid and sucking on the spout with the lid loosely on the bottle - this should pull the straw opening away from the bottom of the bottle, allowing it to sip freely. To address this case, trim the straw by 1/8" and retest.]

Operation

There are three positions for the spout as shown below. In the closed position, it is completely leak-proof. The open position allows for the free flow of liquid up the straw, as well as the free flow of air into the bottle, preventing vacuum resistance; it is not leak-proof in this position. The Paravalve is designed to have the spout in perfect alignment for maximum flow when it is rotated as far as it can go - no guessing on perfect spout alignment. The vent position is for venting any pressure that may have built up inside the bottle; this can happen if you are using a carbonated beverage, the bottle sits in the sun or near a heat source, or when there are air pressure changes outside the bottle (i.e. changes in barometric pressure or altitude). By venting the pressure, it prevents blowback up the straw. The vent position spans about 30 degrees of rotation and is in the middle between the closed and open positions.

The Paravalve works with liquids up to 140 deg. F (60 deg. C). The hot liquid may expand the air and pressurize the bottle. If you are using the Paravalve with hot liquids, it is important to pause in the vent position for a second or two to prevent hot liquid from coming back up the straw to release the built up pressure.

We don't recommend using the Paravalve straw with liquids hotter than 140 degrees (60 deg. C); the high flow rate could burn your mouth. There may also be a correlation between drinking very hot beverages and esophageal cancer: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2773211/

Removing the spout for cleaning:

The following procedure only applies to the Paravalve 2.0 straw lids. The original Paravalve lid does not have a removable spout.

Cleaning

The Paravalve lid may be cleaned in the top rack of the dishwasher; we recommend leaving the spout fully open while cleaning. Be sure not to lose the O-ring seal that goes inside the lid, as this can come loose with the agitation of the dishwasher. You can also clean the straw in warm soapy water using the included straw cleaning brush. Due to the wide unobstructed design of the spout, the cleaning brush can also clean the spout.

Deep Cleaning

The performance of the paravalve lid can be degraded by dirt, sand or drink residue in the spout/seal interface. If you use drinks other than water, it will need this done more frequently.

1. Remove the spout using the procedure shown above.
2. Remove the seals under the spout may be removed using a toothpick or other small tool. They're easy to lose, so take care when removing and cleaning. Clean the lid and seals using warm soapy water.
3. Replace the seals.
4. Replace the spout.

Seal Replacement

We make our seals from an upgraded FDA approved EPDM rubber that should last much longer than the silicone seals used in other straw lids. EPDM is also less porous, which makes it less likely to harbor mold; silicone is porous enough to allow mold to grow into the substrate.  If the seals should become too dirty or too damaged to clean, all three seals are easily replaced, and so can the spout. We want your lid to last a long time.

• O-ring:  This seals the lid to the bottle. To remove it, bang the bottom of the lid against your hand or other firm surface. It should come out after a few times. When replacing the O-ring, use a popsicle stick or similar object to push the new O-ring into position. Don't use a knife or other sharp object which could cut the seal.
• Water Seal and Air Seal: These two seals are underneath the spout, so the spout must be removed before they can be replaced. The spout removal procedure is shown above. You can use a toothpick or dental pick to remove the old seals. Clean the seal cavities with warm soapy water before placing the new seals, then re-install the spout.

Troubleshooting

If your lid was working fine, but has developed a leak, please follow the deep cleaning procedure shown above. You can also try flipping the seals upside down.

If you are getting air mixed with water , make sure the straw is fully inserted and the spout is in the fully open position and try again. If the problem persists, then you may be missing the seal under the spout; please contact customer service for assistance. Occasionally, due to the tight manufacturing tolerances, a lid will not seal properly even with the seals in place, making the lid defective. If you receive a defective lid, please reach out to us and we will send a free replacement.

If there is difficulty sucking water up the straw, the most likely cause is that your straw is too long and pressing against the bottom of the bottle. To check this, loosen the lid so it rests loosely on top the bottle and see if you can now drink easily. If so, your straw is too long - trim it and try again. This problem can also occur if there is a tea bag or other firm objects at the bottom of the bottle or stuck in the straw. If the problem persists, please contact customer service.

If you are getting water shooting out the spout when you open it, then the bottle contents are pressurized due to heat or carbonation. Try slowly opening the spout half way to the vent position, which is mid way between the open and closed position. It will only take 1 or 2 seconds to release any built up pressure. Once the pressure has released, you can open the spout without getting soaked and drink normally.

If you have any other problems, please contact us at support@eafproducts.com; we are here to help.

Got Splurp?

Yes, we made that word up to mean getting a few drops of liquid coming out the spout when you open it up for the first time after refilling your bottle. The splurp happens when the lid is screwed on while the spout is closed. The entire straw will remain filled with air since there is nowhere for it to escape. Then when the spout is opened, liquid rushes up the straw and has enough momentum to send a few drops out the spout.

Preventing splurp: The simple solution is to open up the spout while screwing on the lid; this will allow the liquid to fill up the straw as the lid is being attached - No more splurp!

Hidden Feature: gentle pour stream

One thing we found, quite by accident, is that the dual ball valve system can provide a gentle stream of water that is useful for washing hands, giving your dog a drink, or to provide a "no touch" way to share some water with a friend. To do this, open up the spout, and with the air hole below the water hole, tilt the bottle to the side; the water path will act as the vent, and you will get a small stream of water out the vent hole.

One handed operation