[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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?