Plumbing Problem With The Outside Sprinkler Deal

[steve dave]

So, I have in ground sprinklers and, like, there's this thing outside my house before it goes into the ground that is leaking.  I don't really know what it is.  Looks kinda like a bell or something.  It sits on top of a little pipe that ends up going into the ground and it now has a slow stream of water that comes out the top of it all the time.  Used to not do this.  I've tried whacking it with my hand and yelling at it but it doesn't seem to help.  Can one of you plumbing types post step by step instructions on what I should do?  I'll probabaly need pictures and junk.  K'thanks.

[willie]

It's your backflow preventer and it may be able to be rebuilt, or you may have to replace it.  Depends on what kind you have.

[steve dave]

A)  Is this hard?
B)  How much is one and where would I buy it?

[willie]

A)  Is this hard?
B)  How much is one and where would I buy it?

For the cost, I'd replace it.  You can buy at a sprinkler supply store.  I think Home Depot has them also.  For a single backflow preventer, it should be around $50 - $60.  A double backflow would be around $90 - $110.

Turn the sprinkler system off, drain the supply line and take the backflow preventer off and into HD or the sprinkler supply store.  They'll hook you up.

[steve dave]

This thing is only, like, 5 years old.  Should it already be kicking me in the nuts?  Thanks, I'll hang up and listen off the air. 

[willie]

Probably not, although some are really cheaply made.

[willie]

check out this link for some pics / advice:

http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/articles.asp?id=188

Good Luck!!

[steve dave]

Through the magic of google I've deduced that it is a pressure vacuum breaker type backflow preventer with two little valve deals on the side.  Does any of this give me any better chance of just yelling at it more and fixing it?

[willie]

Through the magic of google I've deduced that it is a pressure vacuum breaker type backflow preventer with two little valve deals on the side.  Does any of this give me any better chance of just yelling at it more and fixing it?

No.  It's the cheaper of the two I mentioned earlier though (~$50).

[steve dave]

Do I have to remove the whole thing or just pull the guts apart and get some new guts?  Seems like that would be my best bet for not rough ridin' something up big time (almost certainly will anyway).

[willie]

Do I have to remove the whole thing or just pull the guts apart and get some new guts?  Seems like that would be my best bet for not fracking something up big time (almost certainly will anyway).

Some backflows are rebuildable, and some aren't.  It also usually takes some good tools and some skill (which sounds like it may be an issue here).

You may be better off just cutting the PVC pipe leading into and out of the BP and getting some slip couplers.

Go here (I think you're Omaha): http://www.reams.net/locations.htm  Write the model # down (if there is one), take some pictures in with you and they'll help you.  They'll have everything you need.

[ChiComCat]

Do I have to remove the whole thing or just pull the guts apart and get some new guts?  Seems like that would be my best bet for not rough ridin' something up big time (almost certainly will anyway).

My buddy had this same issue SD and tried the same thing.  He ended up just moving.  Depending on how the basement is going, I would go ahead and just put the house on the market.  It had a good run

[steve dave]

Do I have to remove the whole thing or just pull the guts apart and get some new guts?  Seems like that would be my best bet for not fracking something up big time (almost certainly will anyway).

Some backflows are rebuildable, and some aren't.  It also usually takes some good tools and some skill (which sounds like it may be an issue here).

You may be better off just cutting the PVC pipe leading into and out of the BP and getting some slip couplers.

There's no PVC involved in this SOB.  It's all some sort of space age metal or something (possibly brass, dunno).

[willie]

Do I have to remove the whole thing or just pull the guts apart and get some new guts?  Seems like that would be my best bet for not fracking something up big time (almost certainly will anyway).

Some backflows are rebuildable, and some aren't.  It also usually takes some good tools and some skill (which sounds like it may be an issue here).

You may be better off just cutting the PVC pipe leading into and out of the BP and getting some slip couplers.

There's no PVC involved in this SOB.  It's all some sort of space age metal or something (possibly brass, dunno).

I give up, follow ChiCat's advice.

[yoga-like_abana]

I think you need to give it a good caulking.

[steve dave]

I think you need to give it a good caulking.

I'm going to hit it with something harder than my hand prolly.  I'll report back with how that goes.

[yoga-like_abana]

I think you need to give it a good caulking.

I'm going to hit it with something harder than my hand prolly.  I'll report back with how that goes.

let me know if u need help 

[Poster formerly known as jthutch]

You need to get a thingamagig, and a do hicky.  Tape it to the whatsit, and them screw in the whatchamacallit.  Then get a sledge hammer.

[bakerman]

Buy a Ouija Board, get in contact with Billy Mays and buy some LEAK ENDER 2000!!

[Pittcat]

:frankstare:

[O-town Kat]

Duct taPe the shazbot! out of it

[Dr Rick Daris]

sd,

i know a guy. take pics and post or send them to me on my brand new sprint evo cellular telephone or something and i'll ask him. if you lived in mhk, we'd just tell him and he'd come over and fix it for free for you prob. blows out my lines every year. no charge. big time. 

[steve dave]

sd,

i know a guy. take pics and post or send them to me on my brand new sprint evo cellular telephone or something and i'll ask him. if you lived in mhk, we'd just tell him and he'd come over and fix it for free for you prob. blows out my lines every year. no charge. big time. 

 

[steve dave]

I e-mailed it to your yahoo account and texted it to your phone.  The water comes out from under the top deal at a kinda fast drippy rate. 

[steve dave]

So, rick daris has his guy all over this but I'm posting the picture of the thing anyway: