SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

it sounds like deyre has either a seperate water supply for the sprinklers, or its tapped outside by the meter. you werent very clear on this. and i didnt see a previous post to tell me which it was. im sorry i work 12 hours a day actually installing irrigation systems, i dont have time to research previous posts like tom does and spend all my time here. tom obviously isnt too successful at irrigation or he wouldnt have too much time either. your company couldnt even compete with mine. do you know why........?????? cause "fly by nights" arent competition!!!!

Make sure that if you use a brass valve with pressure regulation, you don't have any zones that are less than 10 GPM. The brass valves with pressure regulation on a high pressure, low flow zone might chatter and vibrate because the diaphragm will barely be open. If all your zones are between 20-30 gpm, you are fine. If you have one zone that is drip or only has a few sprinklers on it, be careful. I know this from experience... I have a 1" Hunter Brass Master Valve on a high pressure system and my low flow zones caused major vibration and chattering in the lines.

Also, to save some cash, you would be fine to use a 1" brass valve.. you don't need a 1.5" brass valve for 30 gpm. Most 1" brass valves are rated for 10-60 gpm. Just size the inlet and outlet pipe down to 1" in and out of the valve and keep the lines at 1.5".

lush96 its too bad you install a poor device like a double check. they are antiquated at best.

they are a poor choice for a high hazard sprinkler system connection being that they are a low hazard device

the problem with double checks is that they give no visual indication of failure and they are a low hazard device.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by lush96</i>
<br />backflows go indoors where i am from tom. full dump????? i think you are referring to a reduced pressure zone valve. im in long island and a regular DCV (double check valve) is installed indoors to prevent the possibility of freezing. i know your going to say that you can disassemble them or bleed them in the winter but we put backflow valves inside here. you know something......whenever we see a system where the DCV is outside, and a plastic master valve is inside attached to poly.........we laugh hard!!!! then we change it and reverse it. master valve outside.......DCV inside........the way its supposed to be if done professionally. but thats why we have been in business 35 years tom. we dont do hack jobs.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">Thirty-five years of DCVA installations may become hack jobs, with a single stroke of a pen. At some point, it's likely that New York will bring their backflow requirements in line with the BOCA codes, which do not allow for DCVA usage. Grandfathering of old work is by no means a given, as at least one neighboring state made obvious.

Outdoor backflow is commonplace in warmer climates, where there are no basements. Water meters can be curbside, and system connections would be outdoors as well.

A bras valve is a sound choice. However so you know, the 150 psi rating on any valve does not mean it will explode at 151 psi. All they are implying is that is the valve recommended maximum pressure, I however am like your self in this matter. Why run the risk? Well if it were me, I would go with Rain-Bird 200 psi valve such as the PEB series. They are far less expensive as the brass and parts are generally more available. But by all means, go with what is more predominant in your area. If you have to repair the valve or replace it for any reason, it will be easier to find the parts. A few other good choices in 200 psi valves are Weathermatic Silver Bullet, Nelson 9500 series valve, Hunter ICV. If I am not mistaken all offer pressure regulation, but only a few may offer both globe and angle configuration.

every sprinkler company in long island installs DCV's tom. EVERY one. so i guess they are all doing the wrong thing. they are not hack job devices tom. they are actually required in certain parts of long island. and we are certified backflow testers and test our DCV's that we install every year. we are also certified master plumbers. so enough of your "low hazard" bull. residential sprinkler systems are more common and popular in long island by far than in any other part of the country tom. polls show that almost 85 percent of all the houses here have systems. so i think we kinda have it down pat here. i would really really love to see one of your installs so i can laugh. your in over your head junior. your mom and pop company wouldnt even be able to compete out here. we all check your comments out in the morning at our office and just laugh hard!!!! so stay in your league.....the minors.

If your a certified backflow tester than you know that a double check is a low hazard device. So why does the A.S.S.E. frown on them?

Here in the wild west almost all homes have irrigation systems-just like long island

by the way I'm also a certified backflow tester..........

honestly tom, they dont frown on them here. they have always been used and no problems have occured. all the companys here install them. maybe its just a difference in location.