Danny D. wrote:
This garden Wilkins Zurn water check valve is leaking:
SMALL: http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...0/11343535.jpg
LARGE: http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/11343535.jpg

I can't understand HOW it works given that it's at the top of a hill.

At that height above the house, no water is ever going to flow backward
into the water supply (I think).

The only water higher is the water tank itself, the bottom of which is at
the same level as this Wilkins Zurn water check valve.

I don't know WHY this check valve even exists, since it's 10 to 20 feet
ABOVE almos all the spigots (except those at the water tank itself).

Do you agree I can just bypass this check valve?
Or am I missing something obvious?

Hi,
It is the code where I live. I do't want to have even one in a thousand
chance of drinking dirty water no matter what. I have them on outside
faucets and in-line feeding sprinkler system.

On Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:58:22 -0700, Tony Hwang wrote:

I have them on outside faucets and in-line feeding sprinkler system.

Yes. That's what it's on for me too.

It's only at the top of the hill, at the level of the bottom of the water
tanks, and it's ONLY for the sprinkler system and hoses that are OUTSIDE
the house.

The spigots on the house seem to be fed by the home water system, which
is a separate pipe.

Someone said I could rebuild it - so I'm going to Home Depot tomorrow
(and maybe Lowes) to find the parts to rebuild it if I can.

Danny D. wrote:

Someone said I could rebuild it - so I'm going to Home Depot tomorrow
(and maybe Lowes) to find the parts to rebuild it if I can.

Jeez, just buy a new one.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net

On Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:30:05 -0500, dadiOH wrote:

Jeez, just buy a new one.

That's probably not a bad idea.

I'm trying to figure out what it is so I can price it.
And how it works.

For example, what's the purpose of the four female fittings?
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/11343535.jpg

BTW, I found the Wilkins Zurn backflow checkvalve page:
http://www.zurn.com/Pages/Search.asp...ow&ak=backflow

But I haven't yet found the particular device to obtain price
and availability and instructions as to what those four fittings
are for.

On Nov 6, 9:05*am, "Danny D." wrote:
On Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:30:05 -0500, dadiOH wrote:
Jeez, just buy a new one.

That's probably not a bad idea.

I'm trying to figure out what it is so I can price it.
And how it works.

For example, what's the purpose of the four female fittings?
*http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/11343535.jpg

BTW, I found the Wilkins Zurn backflow checkvalve page:
*http://www.zurn.com/Pages/Search.asp...ow&ak=backflow

But I haven't yet found the particular device to obtain price
and availability and instructions as to what those four fittings
are for.


There are some curious fittings on many of these backflow preventers.
I had a sprinkler guy install a new system and he said they are for
testing purposes and someday some code official might want to use
them for testing, but he'd never seen it done.

I would not get hung up on that aspect. If you're really concerned,
find what you think is a suitable replacement, regardless of the fancy
fittings, print out the datasheet
and take it to your local plumbing inspector and ask. That's the only
way you'll know for sure, regardless of what anyone here thinks.

On Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:59:55 -0800, wrote:

There are some curious fittings on many of these backflow preventers.
I had a sprinkler guy install a new system and he said they are for
testing purposes and someday some code official might want to use
them for testing, but he'd never seen it done.

I called up Wilkins Zurn (Wilkins Water Works) technical support.
They told me those four fittings are for testing purposes, as
you had surmised.

I'm reading all I can on it from the datasheets right now since
it's a $755 part with a $55 repair kit - but, as you know,
repairing (fixing) takes more effort than simple replacement.

Wilkins Zurn 975XL Specification Sheet
http://content.zurn.com/web_document...-975XL(lg).pdf

Wilkins Zurn 975XL Maintenance Sheet
http://content.zurn.com/web_document...on/ISSM950.pdf

I wonder if there is Linux freeware for these CAD drawings?
Wilkins Zurn 975XL CAD drawings (DXL)
http://content.zurn.com/web_documents/dxf/975XL.dxf

Wilkins Zurn 975XL BIM 3d Model
http://tinyurl.com/aj8fh26

On Nov 6, 7:05*am, "Danny D." wrote:
On Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:30:05 -0500, dadiOH wrote:
Jeez, just buy a new one.

That's probably not a bad idea.

I'm trying to figure out what it is so I can price it.
And how it works.

For example, what's the purpose of the four female fittings?
*http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/11343535.jpg

BTW, I found the Wilkins Zurn backflow checkvalve page:
*http://www.zurn.com/Pages/Search.asp...ow&ak=backflow

But I haven't yet found the particular device to obtain price
and availability and instructions as to what those four fittings
are for.

My guess on those four female fittings is one of two things:
1. you could run four above ground water lines to different zones in
your yard or garden. It looks like they have quarter turn shutoffs
for each one.

2. they may be for blowing out the system with an air compressor, but
being that there's four of them and the height location in relation to
the yard, this is doubtful. On my underground lawn sprinkler system,
I have to blow mine out prior to winter so that the water in the lines
don't freeze and bust the pipes.

I agree with the prior posts that the backflow preventer is necessary.


2.

On Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:19:28 -0800, rlz wrote:

I agree with the prior posts that the backflow preventer is necessary.

OK. I don't disagree. It's there for a reason.
I'm going to try to understand the thing and then repair it.

BTW, I can't tell if it's a 1" or a 1.5 inch opening
because it clearly has a "1" stamped on each opening
but it's just as clearly got a 1" pipe going in and out.

Here, for example, is a ruler next to the pipe and
a yellow circle around the 1.
LARGE: http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/11346746.jpg
SMALL: http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/...0/11346746.jpg

Notice the pipe is actually about 1 3/8ths in diameter, so it's
neither 1 inch nor 1.5 inch.

Q: What size would you say this Wilkins Zurn 975XL actually fits?

Danny D. wrote:
On Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:30:05 -0500, dadiOH wrote:

Jeez, just buy a new one.

That's probably not a bad idea.

I'm trying to figure out what it is so I can price it.
And how it works.

For example, what's the purpose of the four female fittings?
http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/11343535.jpg

I have no idea. Best guess is for attaching pipes, no idea why you would
want to. I also have no idea why there are fore and aft valves.

I do see what appears to be a clean out fitting (two, actually). If it were
me I'd open them up and see if some gunk was keeping the valve open. If you
replace it, all you really need to know is the pipe sizes to which the new
check valve will attach. You will probably have to do some pipe fitting
too - nipple & coupling at least - as it is not likely a new one will fit
lengthwise properly. Cheapest check valves are PVC; brass is both better
and pricier.


--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net

On Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:30:05 -0500, dadiOH wrote:

Jeez, just buy a new one.

I just got off the phone with Wilkins Zurn Technical Support
(aka Wilkins Water Works) at 1-855-663-9876

A new one is over seven hundred dollars.

So, while it may be easy to say to buy one, I would think
a home repair is in order here.

Luckily, they make a 'repair kit', with instructions:

http://www.zurn.com/Pages/ProductDet...NodeKey=377206
Wilkins Waterworks 975XL Repair Kit List Price: $55
Wilkins Waterworks 975XL Repair Kit List Price: $755