What would happen if I just bypassed this garden water check valve?

[Danny D.]

I do now!

Thanks.

[dadiOH]

So replace it. What is it, 2"? You can buy 2" brass check valves for less than $50.

If it isn't 2", here are some more...

[dadiOH]

Wrong place. Measure at the pipe into the check valve. Actually, it doesn't much matter...get the size check valve necessary - I'd think 1 1/2" would be very generous - and use pipe fittings as needed to marry it to the pipe. Do you plan to keep the shutoff valves?

[troppo]

"Danny D." wrote in news:k7bc20$nua$1 @speranza.aioe.org:

Standard drawing exchange format. On Linux, insert into LibreOffice Draw, Draftsight, maybe QCAD, GIMP.

[Danny D.]

I ordered the repair kit - so I'm just waiting for it to arrive.

[Danny D.]

Interesting!

Unfortunately, I already ordered the $45 repair kit - but if an entire NEW 1" (ID) check valve is only a few dollars more, then I goofed!

I should have asked sooner.

[Wes Groleau]

Sorry, when you said "the only water higher" I thought you meant there actually was some water higher..

[DD_BobK]

On Nov 6, 10:41=A0am, "dadiOH" wrote: SNIP

.

A swing check is not a suitable replacement for a vacuum based back flow preventer.

As Ed has mentioned it is difficult to know if the installation under discussion "really needs" a backflow preventer but often it's a local code requirement.

I have / had a similar situation. The back flow preventer (Wilkins/ Zurn) suffered a hard freeze, the unit started to leak. Someone (who shall remain nameless) volunteered to "take care of it" for a very small fee since I was too busy to attend to it.

My wife had the guy "take care of it"... His solution? A $15 swing check valve.

The result? Fast forward a couple years... the city is now sending out letters requesting the mfr name & unit serial numbers of backflow preventers. You see, backflow preventers are such sophisticated devices that they are serialized.

Those "female fittings" on the side are mini 1/4 turn valves that are used to test the unit's functionality. In some installations, formal testing at specified intervals is required.

For OP & anyone else who to learn about backflow preventers I offer...

OP-

The link also has troubleshooting info as well.

Ebay is a possible source of reasonably prices units.

cheers Bob

[trader4]

As others have said, a backflow preventer is not just a check valve.

[trader4]

It is measured exactly as it's called, by INSIDE diameter.

[Ralph Mowery]

Not EXACTLY.. It depends on the thickness of the pipe. Schedule 40 pipe is 1.049 inches inside, and sched 80 is .957 inches inside.

Pipe is the same outside diameter so it will all thread together for the same size. Some pipe has thicker walls than others so the only way to go is to make the inside diameter smaller.

Again look at the chart.

[Danny D.]

I got a call that my repair kit is in so I'll snap a photo of it when I pick it up and let you guys know how it works out.

[Danny D.]

Here is the Zurn Wilkins 950-XL backflow preventer repair kit.

Hard to believe I paid fifty bucks for two springs and a couple of o-rings! :)

[Smitty Two]

You didn't. You paid $1 for the parts and $49 to the company for the considerable effort of making them available to you. The same ratio probably applies to a bottle of dish soap.

[Betsy]

I have a similar check valve, which I hate, since it tends to leak. When it does leak, I take it apart, clean it out without replacing parts, and wait until it leaks again.

[Danny D.]

I'll let you know when I take it apart, hopefully this weekend!

[DanG]

I don't know where you are, but here we take them off in the winter months. We have coaches who run out to turn water on after our plumbers have blown down the lines for the winter. Lots of broken pipe after a good freeze. Just seems to work out better to undo the 2 unions and put the back flow preventer indoors.

[krw]

Well, you could make the springs yourself.

[Danny D.]

We probably could second source the springs and o-rings in a second. Or just refurbish the set.

I hope to get to this project this weekend so as to be able to report back with pictures of the job.

Meanwhile, I'm waiting on parts for my other projects lined up!

[Danny D.]

UPDATE: Thanks for all your help & advice! My backflow preventer is now repaired & no longer leaking water. A 15-step pictorial DIY is attached below.

SUMMARY: I found all the parts inside the three valves in excellent condition as you had suggested it would be - but I replaced them all anyway.

The key problem I saw was the #2 check valve was stuck in place due to light-green corrosion inside the brass cap cavity.

Also there was light-green corrosion in all cavities, which I painstakingly wire brushed out - as that was the key issue.

On a scale of 1 to 10, this is an easy 1. No surprises. No special tools. It took me about three hours - one hour for the #1 check valve on the top inlet, another hour for the #2 check valve on the bottom outlet, and another hour for the relief valve on the inlet.

It should take you about a half hour in total - maybe 45 minutes, depending on how well you wish to clean out the green corrosion. I took my sweet time.

Below is a quick DIY with photographs for the $755 1-inch ID Zurn Wilkins 975XL Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Preventer

after detailing the 11-piece Wilkins Water Works RK34-975XL $43.20 repair kit (855-663-9876) and assembly instructions.

STEP 0 of 3: Shut inlet & outlet valves & open #2,#3,&#4 test ports STEP 1 of 3: Repair #1 check valve on top inlet STEP 2 of 3: Repair #2 check valve on bottom outlet STEP 3 of 3: Repair relieve valve on side inlet

Here is a step-by-step DIY in 15 annotated photographs:

REFERENCES: Wilkins Zurn 975XL Specification Sheet Wilkins Zurn 975XL Maintenance Sheet