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

I have a Watts 800M4FR PVB that's acting up from time to time. At the beginning of the summer, I did buy the full replacement kit and installed that. However now that my system is operational, it still does this from time to time: http://youtu.be/ExNRjmqMKjo

Sometimes it will do that indefinitely and other times it will stop the pulsating and water will just flow from the cap. This normally happens at the beginning of my watering cycle when my first zone starts. I haven't been able to reproduce this through a manual start of that zone. And normally when this happens, if I just shut the valve going into the PVB, then open it again, the PVB seems to "catch" and it no longer leaks and functions normally through the entire watering cycle.

Any thoughts on what could be causing this? Thanks!

Quoted from "Wet_Boots"

You would have been better off buying a new PVB, since you seem to have replaced the outlet ball valve with one that doesn't have the required testcock.

I've actually done nothing other than install the replacement kit as I mentioned. Are you saying that valve could be causing the problem? Or are you saying this issue is an indication the PVB needs to be replaced?

Thanks WB. Not saying you aren't correct about the PVB and the valve...I'm sure you are, I inherited this system with the house we purchased so no telling what has been done in the past.

Most of my valves do have flow control so I can try that, but last time I turned one of those knobs it broke.