r/Irrigation • u/HowManyBanana • 10h ago

Seeking Pro Advice Anyone familiar with this setup?

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3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

4

u/-ram_the_manparts- Technician 10h ago

Yea, looks like an RP. What's up?

1

u/HowManyBanana 10h ago

I have a drip coming out of the black piece all the way on the bottom. Is it linked to any of the adjustable screws up top?

13

u/-ram_the_manparts- Technician 10h ago

No, those adjustable screws are called test cocks and they're for hooking up a differential pressure gauge for testing the operation of the device to make sure it's working properly.

A drip coming from the relief valve is usually caused by a leak in one of the two check valves inside the device. There may be an obstruction in there, or damage to some component of the check valves. I could explain how to fix it but, generally these need to be worked on by a licensed professional because they protect the municipal water system.

Source: A licenced backflow tester

5

u/raisincain1975 10h ago

What he said

2

u/HowManyBanana 10h ago

Okay cool. I just put a piece of downspout under it and routed the water away from the house for now until I can call the company that did the install in the morning. Appreciate the response!

1

u/-ram_the_manparts- Technician 10h ago

Cheers, good luck!

1

u/zanros421 Contractor 9h ago

If you want too, theres a company called Amercian Backflow. You can go there, look up your make and model, and most of the time they have the procedures to take the device apart. After you clean your parts, put it back together, making sure you have a food safe lube(most use Vaseline if I'm being honest with you). Most of the time thise is the first step all Backflow Testers do, because that fixes it about 85% of the time.

Source: I'm a licensed BPAT in Texas.

2

u/-ram_the_manparts- Technician 9h ago

You didn't mention fipping gaskets! If there's pitting in the rubber check gasket caused by debris trapped between it and the valve seat, often you can flip the gasket over rather than replacing the check.

I wish I could do that with solenoid valves...

2

u/zanros421 Contractor 9h ago

Ah yes, the classic "flip it" repair. I love that on customers I know will be cheap about it.

1

u/Shovel-Operator Contractor 4h ago

You could on some of the old automatic valves. They were a flat gasket held on with a brass screw. But I havent seen one in about 20 years now.

3

u/lennym73 9h ago

Debris in the #1 check. But like ram said earlier, you should have a licensed tester open and clean it out. If you are where it needs to be tested, it will need retested after it's opened.

2

u/HowManyBanana 9h ago

I am in an area that requires testing. The system is only about 3 months old, so it should still be under warranty I think.

1

u/zanros421 Contractor 9h ago

Oh then ignore my advice about the cleaning of it that I just posted. If you have a warranty, make the company come make it right.

0

u/lennym73 9h ago

Technically anytime the water is shut off before the backflow, it needs to be retested. Whether the company does it or follows it is up to them.

3

u/-ram_the_manparts- Technician 9h ago

Technically? Where did you read that? I have the AWWA manual here, is that technically? cause that ain't in there

1

u/lennym73 9h ago

If the unit is opened for service, it must be retested. How else would you know it will still work properly if you don't test it? Some municipalities require one if the pressure dropped to zero. (Water shut off)

3

u/-ram_the_manparts- Technician 9h ago edited 8h ago

Oh, yeah, absolutely, if you open and service it. You don't have to re-test it just because you turned off the supply for it though, that would be excessive.

0

u/lennym73 9h ago

In this case, someone will open it up to clean/service it.

5

u/-ram_the_manparts- Technician 9h ago

Yeah for sure, that's just not what you said earlier, and you prefaced it with "technically". You were "technically" wrong.

1

u/lennym73 8h ago

We have a couple municipalities that want them tested if it's been shut off. It varies across the whole country. I've commented about someone's needing tested and their response is "ours get tested when it's installed and have no requirements after that."

0

u/Still-Program-2287 8h ago

LOL like anyone cares about your cities.. you were acting like it’s a rule everywhere but that ain’t true at all

1

u/-ram_the_manparts- Technician 8h ago

I'd love to read the legislation requiring that, because it's very odd. Generally testing is annual, and when it's worked on.

1

u/raisincain1975 10h ago

Yep what you need ?

1

u/HowManyBanana 10h ago

I have a drip coming from the black piece all the way on the bottom, is it linked to any of the adjustable screws up top?

1

u/Southern-Ad4016 8h ago

Some debris inside not allowing rubbers to seat properly