Is there a plumber in the house? [Sorted]

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Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

I have a Watts Model #800M4 1" PVB that looks very similar to the one pictured installed on my irrigation system. It just started making the most horrifying noise, much like SOOI when he is having a temper tantrum, or more specifically, like Chewbacca having an orgasm. It rattles and vibrates, but is still allowing water to pass. Any ideas? For the first useful bit of advice I will offer some of my elite Photoshop skills, for use in a bait. If you have a lad that works with irrigation systems, and he gives the correct answer to fix it (other than replacing it) I will buy you a Premium Membership. (The rules are pretty loose here, but I will let your integrity guide you)

See the gate valve to the left? It was replaced this spring because some moron didn't make sure all of the water was drained out last fall and it burst. (stuff with water in it gets destroyed here in the winter) See the plastic cap on top? It was melted and replaced because some moron used a torch to heat up that gate valve in order to loosen it. Once all of this was done it ran fine, up until today.

Just for your information, I will take total credit (with the bride) for fixing it.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:32 am

Was told that the USA is a hard water area.

Depends on the time you have, if time restricted, do each part in turn.

I would suspect that they are all furred up, as well as the pipes.

Soak each part in Denture Cleanser Tablets to loosen the fur, then with a suitable sized round wire brush and some elbow grease, clean each part.

Baiting Guru Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2163

replace the moron

any rubber rings in it? they may need replacing too.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:21 am

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 2:35 pm

Sounds like you allowed crap into the system when you replaced the gate valve. I suggest a dissection with a thorough examination of the condition of the seats, springs and o-rings. The spring may have lost its temper when you heated it but a weak spring should not cause a resonance. Check for crap in the sensing line. Its just a hole in the brass casting. I understand that the seats are plastic on that model and the manufacturer recommends o-ring replacement every 5 years.

I have a Watts gauge set that I paid hundreds of dollars instead of thousands for it somewhere in the garage but never performed backflow tests with it. I have a home project scheduled for next week involving the replacement of a plastic backflow preventer with a solenoid and no test ports. I know that they sell the o-rings and diaphragms for it but for $12 why bother to repair it.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 3:25 pm

The first thing I would try is to clean the entire unit. The cheapest and easiest 'fix' is to immerse everything in vinegar for a good part of a day or overnight. This can work wonders and doesn't cost much.

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21158

Klaasvaak wrote:

replace the moron

any rubber rings in it? they may need replacing too.

You have my vote sir!

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Connie nailed it. There was a small chunk of Teflon tape floating around inside, I removed it and that solved the problem.

Connie wins the use of my Photoshop skills. Thanks everyone.

Baiting Guru Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2163

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBxXp8wQmeg&

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:12 pm

Great news. Next time we need to add some fingers to a lad I will send the photo to you.

I would suggest that the next thing you do is dump all of your Teflon tape and get some proper PTFE paste.

Here's a link to a video of a guy with some mad skills.

Too bad he does not know what the paste is for or how to apply it to anything other than his fingers.

Both the tape and paste are not sealants but are lubricants that prevent galling of the materials allowing for a better mechanical seal. The paste requires less skill to apply.

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