Is it worth rebuilding a Pressure Regulator?

During a water softener install - the plumber noticed the water pressure was 100psi in the house, meaning the regulator is no longer working. This is a 1.25 inch Wilkins, so replacing it is several hundred dollars in parts alone. I see rebuild kits for $60, and it looks fairly straightforward. This is a 20 year old regulator, so there's no doubt its gone. Any chance cleaning will fix it? I'm game to try the rebuild if you think it will work.

 

I've never heard of a PRV costing that much, but it could be the market you are located in. Most are sized for 3/4" or 1" pipe. Can you post a picture of your PRV so we can see what you see? http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...your-post.html

 

Thanks - the regulator is listed for $236.95 at Faucet Depot, it is 1-1/4 pipe. Here's a picture

 

Any special reason it needs to be 1.25"? what size are the pipes after the valve? As Larry said, 3/4" is the norm and are under $50

 

For any PRV over one inch nominal the prices are all over the map. I did a Google search and on the Ferguson site there were models with a price over one thousand dollars.

I can only think of two things in a single-family residence that would require the use of a PRV over one inch nominal size and that would be toilets that used flushometers instead of tanks and a large irrigation system.

The problem with using a rebuild kit is that too often there is a problem with the body of the PRV but this is far more common with the smaller units than those over one inch in size. Larger PRVs are routinely rebuilt with good results and the cost saving is significant. With the smaller units the savings are less and the chances of a bad body are higher making the rebuilding of the smaller sizes a crap shoot.

 

The pipes before and after the valve are also 1.25" it reduces after it starts branching in the house. Maybe my builder had 1.25 pipe left over

 

Thanks I'm going to give it a try - the rebuild kit looks like $60, and this is all threaded fittings and gaskets - now I have to move everything out of the way to get in there and work on it.