Backflow Vacuum Breaker Help
#1
11-11-17, 01:38 PM
Backflow Vacuum Breaker Help
So I noticed today that water was gushing out of an external plumbing fixture, didn't know what it was so I just shut off the main water valve. After doing a bit of research, its a vacuum breaker (Watts 800M4 1" Valve). The bonnet had broken into pieces so I order a bonnet repair kit, but it won't be coming for a few days (it doesn't look like the internal parts are broken so hopefully I won't have to replace those as well)
From my understanding, the breaker is there to prevent backflow from exterior faucets and sprinkler systems. My question is IF I don't use any of those things, can I turn my water back on for these next couple of days? I currently have been the outlet and inlet of the breaker shut off (I tried epoxying the bonnet back together just to see if it would work, it didn't. not surprised).
Also what might have caused it to break in the first place? It was cold today (around 20-25 F this morning), but I haven't experience anything like this for the past 10 years I have been at my home.
FYI - I have no plumbing experience whatsoever, so apologies if terminology is incorrect or question is basic.
From my understanding, the breaker is there to prevent backflow from exterior faucets and sprinkler systems. My question is IF I don't use any of those things, can I turn my water back on for these next couple of days? I currently have been the outlet and inlet of the breaker shut off (I tried epoxying the bonnet back together just to see if it would work, it didn't. not surprised).
Also what might have caused it to break in the first place? It was cold today (around 20-25 F this morning), but I haven't experience anything like this for the past 10 years I have been at my home.
FYI - I have no plumbing experience whatsoever, so apologies if terminology is incorrect or question is basic.
Last edited by brinith; 11-11-17 at 02:11 PM.
#2
11-11-17, 01:44 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
Is this valve outside for the sprinkler system ?
It should have its own shutoff.
A picture would help too. How-to-insert-pictures
Is this valve outside for the sprinkler system ?
It should have its own shutoff.
A picture would help too. How-to-insert-pictures
#3
11-11-17, 01:57 PM
The valve is outside. I am not sure if it is for the sprinkler system. I would assume so. It has three valves (I'm guessing one inlet, one outlet, and then the last just drains everything onto the ground)
image - https://imgur.com/a/cWnct
image - https://imgur.com/a/cWnct
#4
11-11-17, 01:59 PM
Group Moderator
There should be a pipe going into the ground and one going into the house.
Turn the valve off on the pipe into the house.
It was pretty cold here in Northern NJ.
Your anti-siphoning valve probably froze and cracked.
Turn the valve off on the pipe into the house.
It was pretty cold here in Northern NJ.
Your anti-siphoning valve probably froze and cracked.
#6
11-11-17, 02:04 PM
Group Moderator
#7
11-11-17, 02:10 PM
That did the trick, that was pretty straightforward in retrospect. Was just worried about contamination since I didn't have that great of an understanding what it did.
Thank you for your help.
Thank you for your help.
#8
11-11-17, 02:14 PM
Group Moderator
Since that valve is outside.... there should be another one inside the house. There cannot be any water in the pipes outside the house.
#9
11-11-17, 02:44 PM
Group Moderator
Since that valve is outside.... there should be another one inside the house. There cannot be any water in the pipes outside the house.
