backflow preventer question

Timco

In an effort to maintain my 'one man shop', I touch on all of it. I have a journeyman's license in electricity, I am a journeyman welder (www.montroseironworks.com), I have provided plumbing service for the past 10+ years, and am licensed by the Rocky Mountain Gas Association for gas-fired equipment. That is the division of our gas company that oversees instalations. I am licensed & insured in Salt Lake City as a handyman. I service all gas fired equipment and provide combustion analysis.(I am a Bacharach guy) My wife & I also own several rental units. I have several different hats to choose from.

Tim

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Timco

Sooo...

I am installing the new boiler at my 4-plex finally. Pictures tomorrow. Question is on the BFP. I have water into a 1/2" ball valve, then a BFP (watts), then a pressure reg, then on to the boiler, etc. I pressurized the boiler & manifolds to 25#, to do a leak test. The only loss of pressure is through the vent on the BFP. Just drips a bit. BFP is rated for house pressure. With supply valve left open, and system at 25#, why the drips from the BFP vent?

Thanks,

Tim

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Blackoakbob

BFP....

Hi Tim,
There are a couple of reasons the valve would drip. It's designed to vent pressure back from the system which will happen when you start to heat up the system causing the water to expand, even if you would vent air from the system causing the expansion tank to flex or if there is dirt in the seat from the line due to installation. I'm figuring that your talking about a 9D from Watts or the like. If you intend to leave the auto fill open at all times just take the valve apart and flush with water and then make sure your vent line goes to a drain. Best Regards

Timco

Is there not a screen in the unit? I am not heating yet, just filled near boiler piping cold. Expansion tank goes on tomorrow. Will it always drip a bit? No floor drain in mechanical room, and I have it piped over to the WH pan, which is not piped anywhere. I am hoping it will just evaporate.

Thanks alot,

Tim

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Rodney Summers

Tim

Which state is this in?


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Timco

The great state of Utah...

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Rodney Summers

Tim

I can't help but notice your screen name. Is your "primary" business Plumbing, heating or HVAC?


Robert O'Connor/NJ

Unknown

Are you allowed

to use the ventless backflow preventer ? We use them on every boiler install . The Watts 9-D was nothing but headaches for us .

Unknown

u got that right! Ron...

U got that right! Ron ! Them BFP are the pain in the ****, replaced one last spring, now customer called and said the unit is leaky, floor all wet, didn't want pipe to drin (tripping hazard) another trip to be eaten up.... Those damn things are useless with the pressure reducing vavle does a better job and never had one fails on my boiler replacemnt, this one I tested them,with supply valve off, boiler still pressurized before draining, cut or disconnected the supply pipe between the valve and prv, not a drop backflow.... Those job secitry inspectors won't reconized them as a prv which they been aroung a lot longer than any of the inspectors...

Timco

Not sure if code allows, but will look into it. I don't want to deal with a drip for the rest of my years...

T

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Plumdog_2

BFP

answer............dirt! If it is a new one; take it apart and get the dirt out.

Dale

Cold water

I think you answered your own question. A cold water fill will expand as the water reaches basement temp and however much it's over the inlet in the line it will drip. When we hydrotest pipelines someone has to be on a drip valve to keep the pressure from getting too high. If you want to see something scary fill up a water heater with cold water and temp plug the outlets except for where you put a gauge.