How To Repair Backflow Preventer

If your backflow preventer isn't performing equally well as it should, you may be forced to make a difficult decision. Should you repair or replace information technology? In that location are several factors to consider. To help with this procedure nosotros've outlined several tips and all-time practices for backflow preventer maintenance. Backflow preventer in above-ground enclosure

With proper maintenance and annual testing, backflow prevention assemblies tin terminal for many years. But mechanical backflow prevention assemblies accept internal seals, springs, and moving parts that are field of study to clogging, wear or fatigue. And there volition come a time when you must make up one's mind what's more cost-effective: Repairing or replacing?

And then, we asked Sean Cleary, vice president of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and the Backflow Prevention Institute® (BPI) his thoughts. Cleary has been in the backflow concern for over 40 years. He'southward a licensed master plumber who's worked in all phases of the cross-connection, plumbing, and mechanical industries. Permit's take a look at some of the factors he says you must consider when y'all're deciding whether to repair or supercede your backflow preventer.

Size of Your Backflow Preventer Valve

"One of the first things to consider is the size of your valve," Cleary says. "A lot of times it's simply easier (and more affordable) to supersede a smaller valve that's bad," Cleary says. "I know of a few plumbing contractors who stock their service vans with a half-inch, three-quarter, and one-inch assemblies, and if they have a failure while they're doing a examination, information technology'due south more economical for the customer to swap the valve out."

Cleary also says it can exist tough to go parts for an assembly, depending on your location. That as well tin can gene into the determination of replacing a smaller valve rather than repairing it.

When it comes to a larger valve, Cleary says at that place are other things to consider. "The cost of replacing a larger valve is so much more than the price of replacing a smaller assembly," Cleary says. "Y'all really take to look at the condition of the valve."

Cleary says fifty-fifty if you can repair a larger valve, information technology may non mean that yous should repair information technology. "You may accept a 35-year-old valve with its epoxy blanket flaking off, and even though information technology may only cost a few hundred dollars to repair, you lot may be better off installing a more modern valve that will be less expensive to maintain over the years." Cleary says. "Today's backflow preventers are shorter, they're lighter, there are fewer parts and they're easier to maintain."

Condition of Your Valve

When you're trying to determine if you should repair or replace, the condition of your backflow preventer is one of the biggest considerations. Cleary says if you have a smaller valve whose checks are brittle and ready to crack, you should consider replacing it. "If I accept to supplant two checks, along with the rest of the rubber parts and everything else, it may be less expensive to supersede the valves."

Some other factor to consider with smaller valves is where it's been installed. Have pond puddle equipment rooms, for instance. "The environment in these rooms may cause valve handles to rust away and affect the assembly body itself," Cleary says.

In addition to the epoxy coating flaking off a larger valve, yous should also consider the interior conditions of the valve — the valve make upward. "If yous have a larger valve with the epoxy coating coming off, the O ring won't make the proper seal. There's no way to fix the epoxy blanket, and the water is going to start eating at the valve trunk itself," Cleary says.

Cleary adds that you also have to pay attention to the shut-off valves on larger backflow preventers. If they're not holding properly, y'all have to look at what's going on internally. "If you lot accept a xxx-year-old valve that needs thousands of dollars in repairs, it'southward probably fourth dimension to replace it."

The goal is to eliminate the hazard of a cross-connectedness. Any temporary or permanent connexion between a public water system or the customer'south potable water system and any source or organisation containing nonpotable water or other substances can be devastating.

Location of Your Valve

Another matter that may factor into your decision to repair or supervene upon is where your valve is located. Backflow preventers in an outdoor, above-ground enclosure are easier to work on. "More valves are going in enclosures, more valves are going to a higher place ground, and to exist honest, that'southward where they belong," Cleary says.

A properly designed enclosure will accept removable panels and a removable roof to make it much easier to test, repair or supersede your backflow preventer. "Placing an canonical backflow assembly in an outdoor enclosure makes information technology easier to keep up with annual testing and repairs because information technology's more accessible," Cleary says. Placing your backflow preventer in an enclosure also helps to minimize flood risks.

Ask the water jurisdiction to provide a standard item for outdoor, above-ground backflow preventer installations. And for more data on enclosures, our "Guide to Industrial Enclosure Design" can help. It volition provide an overview of the primal design considerations including size and strength, climate control, access and maintenance.

aluminum enclosures

Topics: Backflow Preventers