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BEST RP BackFlo? Wilkins -or- Febco
[?] I'm tryin' to decide what brand REDUCED PRESSURE BackFlo (1") to buy ?? I heard some "negative" comments about Febco that worry me. My choice is between FEBCO 825Y -or- WILKINS 975XL. Both around same price.... but NOT a money issue anyway.... I just want quality !!
Both are similar in design, and I've used them both. The fact that I dismantle a Febco 825Y for winterizing may forstall some of the 'sticking check' problems that the indoor-installed 805Y (double-check version of the same basic device) developed over time. Febco does have a newer RPZ design on the market now, the 860.
As far as my preference... I like the Febco... I haven't seen one fail yet either
THANKS for the replies.... I just ordered a FEBCO 825 (1") for $135 inc. shipping. The person there told me he thinks Wilkins is still American made and Febco and Watts are "imported" but the Febco has the "least plastic internal parts" of the three and has been the most RELIABLE !!
NOW.......... to move on to purchasing new 6-zone CONTROLLER ?? I've been struggling to make a choice.... Hunter PRO-C ??.... Irritrol RAIN DIAL 6 ??.... RAINBIRD ESP ?? ......... THEN six new VALVES.... Irritrol 2400T ??.... Rainbird 100-DVF ???? Decisions, decisions, decisions....
All three still have US foundries, and there are others, too. If Febco happens not to have fixed the 'sticking check valve' problem, you can look out for it yourself by occasionally opening (only one at a time, so you can't mismatch the parts) a check valve on the RPZ and seeing that the parts slide freely. Sometimes the brass built up some corrosion and the plastic piece would stick in it.
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