Village rip off no 1

[Topspinmo]

Irrigation vacuum break replacement. Quoted 700 bucks plus for replacement of the assembly. Assembly price $125 bucks for most, rebuild kit $5 to 30 bucks with most brands. Takes maybe 20 mins to do simple rebuild if you have some skills. If not hope know nice neighbor or pay the piper.

[villagetinker]

Irrigation vacuum break replacement. Quoted 700 bucks plus for replacement of the assembly. Assembly price $125 bucks for most, rebuild kit $5 to 30 bucks with most brands. Takes maybe 20 mins to do simple rebuild if you have some skills. If not hope know nice neighbor or pay the piper.

Interesting, I have never heard of this device, and have not seen one anywhere in our neighborhood, I wonder what the purpose is and if it can just be eliminated?

[Keefelane66]

Irrigation vacuum break replacement. Quoted 700 bucks plus for replacement of the assembly. Assembly price $125 bucks for most, rebuild kit $5 to 30 bucks with most brands. Takes maybe 20 mins to do simple rebuild if you have some skills. If not hope know nice neighbor or pay the piper.
A vacuum breaker is only required for a sprinkler system that uses the same water source that provides potable water for the residence.
It’s a back flow preventer

[retiredguy123]

If you have separate water systems for irrigation and potable water, you shouldn't need a vacuum breaker on the irrigaton system. The purpose for a vacuum breaker would be to prevent the potable water system from being contaminated by the irrigation system. As far as I know, my irrigation system does not have a vacuum breaker.

[Topspinmo]

Mainly north of 466 and maybe parts of north 466A.

[Topspinmo]

Interesting, I have never heard of this device, and have not seen one anywhere in our neighborhood, I wonder what the purpose is and if it can just be eliminated?

Well, it can but probably against code when on city water service.

[villagetinker]

AH! That makes sense, that our entire area has separate irrigation water and potable water supplies. I appreciate the original post, as the quoted price was ridiculous.

[Bill14564]

Interesting, I have never heard of this device, and have not seen one anywhere in our neighborhood, I wonder what the purpose is and if it can just be eliminated?

Probably required where potable water is used for irrigation. If there is a loss of pressure or negative pressure in the main line, this device prevents water from being sucked back out the irrigation lines.

What type of backflow valve is installed on the potable lines going into the house? I wonder why that same valve is not used for irrigation lines.

[Topspinmo]

Here photo or valve in question. They usually last very long time. I had lizard get caught in valve and caused it to dribble. Couple different manufacturers and styles majority have rebuild kits.

[Topspinmo]

AH! That makes sense, that you, our entire area has separate irrigation water and potable water supplies. I appreciate the original post, as the quoted price was ridiculous.

Little more involved in replacement, you have cut the PVC line so you can unscrew valve, and of course swap over the fittings and patch/ clue in PVC connection. With valve and labor for replacement I could it see price pushing price to $400 or so. But. I thought $760. Was robbery when kit much easier and wasn’t and option from the pro. Course in Northern belt it can freeze and crack housing which probably main replacement in that area.

[villagetinker]

IMHO, after I cut the pipes, I would replace with threaded joints that would allow future maintenance without cutting the pipes. I just used a "repair" unit from Lowe's for a busted irrigation pipe (1/2 inch, under $10), and the correct size should work easily for this project.

[Papa_lecki]

Nikola Tesla visited Henry Ford at his factory, which was having some kind of difficulty. Ford asked Tesla if he could help identify the problem area. Tesla walked up to a wall of boilerplate and made a small X in chalk on one of the plates. Ford was thrilled, and told him to send an invoice.The bill arrived, for $10,000. Ford asked for a breakdown. Tesla sent another invoice, indicating a $1 charge for marking the wall with an X, and $9,999 for knowing where to put it.

[mtdjed]

A vacuum breaker is only required for a sprinkler system that uses the same water source that provides potable water for the residence.
It’s a back flow preventer

Sounds like the old days when you only have one source of water which you have to use for internal residence and outside water use. Well, don't we all do that now even if we have irrigation water supplied separately. Seems like I recall a previous thread talking about a similar device required on all outside water faucets. Something makes me think about having a hose connected to the house and perhaps being in a position where there is contaminated water where the hose is residing, and then having a need for backflow protection.

[Topspinmo]

IMHO, after I cut the pipes, I would replace with threaded joints that would allow future maintenance without cutting the pipes. I just used a "repair" unit from Lowe's for a busted irrigation pipe (1/2 inch, under $10), and the correct size should work easily for this project.

That may not be possible with way valve arranged in upside down U shape?

Supply to and through valve 3/4” looking at picture it does have threaded connections on right side to wind valve on and off.

Guess could put it down the outlet pipe to manifolds? But the female connection would have turn? But the failure rate in decades for most. Unless the valve gets frozen and crack IMO no need to replace the assembly, All that does is drive it bill up down here in sunshine state IMO of course.

[Maker]

Are there any concerns about that freezing in the winter when there is a few days in a row below freezing?
If yes, then what do you do?

[rhood]

I have rebuilt several in our neighborhood several years ago after a hard freeze cracked them. Simple job and parts readily available. One valve housing was cracked and the whole unit was replaced. The rest of them just had damaged internals. Now, I drain the valves when a freeze is forecast.

[Topspinmo]

Are there any concerns about that freezing in the winter when there is a few days in a row below freezing?
If yes, then what do you do?


Got down to 24 degree two nights in row last year and had no freezing problems. The day time temps warm up to at least high 30s on those days. Normally winter low temps may dip into high twenties couple time in January or feb. in 8 plus years I’m been here. As precaution usually disconnect outside hose and put towel over the irrigation pipes sticking up by house.

Also there are two relief valves on valve. You could close the inlet valve and open these valves to relieve any chance If ice swelling, I solve few do that down here? Further north I would that would be must thing to do to prevent housing from splitting?

[gwelmen]

In areas where portable water is used for irrigation, it is common to see what is called a backflow device. It prevents irrigation water from mixing with portable water in the house. It would not be necessary in areas where your irrigation water is separately piped to your house by the developer . ] so I think this post applies to areas north of 466.

[Cybersprings]

That may not be possible with way valve arranged in upside down U shape?

Supply to and through valve 3/4” looking at picture it does have threaded connections on right side to wind valve on and off.

Guess could put it down the outlet pipe to manifolds? But the female connection would have turn? But the failure rate in decades for most. Unless the valve gets frozen and crack IMO no need to replace the assembly, All that does is drive it bill up down here in sunshine state IMO of course.

No, you can't put it down with the manifolds. It must be higher than any sprinkler head in the yard.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Ok, why is it Villages rip off #1?

You know, you have choices; you can move back to where you came from (and you probably bad mouthed that place all the time also) or you can stay here. Don’t blame everything on The Villages; I sometimes have to repair an an irrigation issue - I do it myself; maybe you need to learn how to repair things instead of complain.

[Topspinmo]

Ok, why is it Villages rip off #1?

You know, you have choices; you can move back to where you came from (and you probably bad mouthed that place all the time also) or you can stay here. Don’t blame everything on The Villages; I sometimes have to repair an an irrigation issue - I do it myself; maybe you need to learn how to repair things instead of complain.

Well that surprise you can do it yourself.

So done with your rant, take pill, comprehension might Be helping hand, but I doubt it. It’s not the villages it’s the contractor’s. IMO it was rip off, and yes I can have opinion.

[Topspinmo]

No, you can't put it down with the manifolds. It must be higher than any sprinkler head in the yard.

He was taking about threaded connection so you don’t have cut pipes not the valve.

[Pairadocs]

AH! That makes sense, that our entire area has separate irrigation water and potable water supplies. I appreciate the original post, as the quoted price was ridiculous.

Yes, $700 is mind boggling figure. Lived in many communities, this is absolutely THE most "dangerous", cut throat, environment we've ever lived in. Not limited to, but have noticed in our neighborhood females are especially targeted. Just had two neighbor have ice makers replaced for very similar GE refrigerators. Had different repair "services", our recently widowed neighbor paid... wait for it.... $230 MORE than the other neighbor for the same repair/replacement. Another was told $16 THOUSAND dollars for the same capacity/SEER AC/gas furnace for same model home, as the another paid $6,480 for. It's like an "open season" and it's very sad that while the usual thinking is, "buyer beware", a community should have some kind of ethically based trades people and businesses. The Villages seems especially over run with "anything goes" for even very simple services which are made to sound dangerous, or very complicated.

[Pairadocs]

Well that surprise you can do it yourself.

So done with your rant, take pill, comprehension might Be helping hand, but I doubt it. It’s not the villages it’s the contractor’s. IMO it was rip off, and yes I can have opinion.

This is so typical of WAY too many "kind" peoples' response on here to anything ! It's always "get out", "move" for some variation of this. I wonder what makes people so tone deaf to others ? It's almost like some politicians are, just not in the same world. " Just move" is not an easy thing for so many people. For a few, of course it's a snap, but at the age of Villagers, and having to manage that fixed income to cover costs that rise daily, "just moving" is COSTLY and according to many medical studies, is one of the most stressful events a person can go through. The "dismissive" phrase, "just move", often comes from those who have very little ability to relate to others on any meaningful level... I've met many of them through out life, you probably have to, "just buy a new car, just move to a new house, just take a vacation... like I DO they think. In my thoughts, when I meet one like that, I have a name in my head I don't say out loud. I think of them as "surface people", they live on the surface of life, never consider others are not in the same position as they are. This once was a place one could rely on where neighbors looked out for each other and reported the exact type of thing like the $700 excessive charge of the original post.

[Catalina36]

Irrigation vacuum break replacement. Quoted 700 bucks plus for replacement of the assembly. Assembly price $125 bucks for most, rebuild kit $5 to 30 bucks with most brands. Takes maybe 20 mins to do simple rebuild if you have some skills. If not hope know nice neighbor or pay the piper.

Where is the vacuum breaker located????

[mjr0773]

Why not just get a second estimate if you are not comfortable replacing it yourself ?

[Cybersprings]

He was taking about threaded connection so you don’t have cut pipes not the valve.

If that was his intent, I stand corrected. Thanks

[Topspinmo]

Where is the vacuum breaker located????

You may or may not have one depending on where you live. If you can see the pictures it shows irrigation shut off close to you house wall somewhere. If you are on pond water for irrigation you don’t have one and you irrigation shut off may in ground usually under the green cover on the rectangular box usually in front yard or side. Where ever water supply comes in.

[BostonRich]

Just a quick warning to all those who have these valves. Lizards will get inside and get trapped and die. They can jam and damage them. It happened to me. Wrap the valve in light screening to save yourself some future problems.

[Salty Dog]

I recently had one installed and it was $300. Testing was an additional $25. My water is a single source for both potable and irrigation.

Portion of a letter from my water company. "Florida Dept of Environmental Protection (FDEP) administrative code, subsection 62-555-630. Backflow assemblies shall be installed and certified by code. The assembly shall be installed by a licensed contractor certified in the State of Florida to install and test backflow assemblies."

I think repairs have to be done by a licensed contractor as well.

[Keefelane66]

I recently had one installed and it was $300. Testing was an additional $25. My water is a single source for both potable and irrigation.

Portion of a letter from my water company. "Florida Dept of Environmental Protection (FDEP) administrative code, subsection 62-555-630. Backflow assemblies shall be installed and certified by code. The assembly shall be installed by a licensed contractor certified in the State of Florida to install and test backflow assemblies."

I think repairs have to be done by a licensed contractor as well.
Yes repairs and installation is to be performed by licensed plumbing contractor.
Secondly “ How often is backflow testing required in Florida?
The state requires that homeowners have their backflow preventers tested every two years by a certified backflow tester, and that water utilities submit annual reports on the compliance status of their customers.”
I haven’t noticed this on the annual utilities water report.

[DrHitch]

Backflow preventers....comments:

1) be thankful you don't live in many northern states. Every residence with irrigation system requires a backflow preventers and it MUST be put in and removed every season by a licensed contractor... Really dumb

2) backflow preventers in general are a waste since the up-river supply is always at a higher pressure. You'd have to force water at 100psi to contaminate the water supply

3) yes, the Villages is one of the few developments I know of that has a separate irrigation supply system....good planning

[Bill14564]

Backflow preventers....comments:

1) be thankful you don't live in many northern states. Every residence with irrigation system requires a backflow preventers and it MUST be put in and removed every season by a licensed contractor... Really dumb

2) backflow preventers in general are a waste since the up-river supply is always at a higher pressure. You'd have to force water at 100psi to contaminate the water supply

3) yes, the Villages is one of the few developments I know of that has a separate irrigation supply system....good planning

Backflow preventers aren’t intended to help much when everything is working correctly and the supply side is 60psi higher than the rest of the system. They come into play when the supply side pressure drops or even goes negative. Does this happen often? Not at all but when it does you want the backflow preventer in place to protect the system.