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Frost free sillcock rated for continuous use

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In_New_England
In_New_England Member Posts: 164
edited July 31 in Plumbing

Another day, another thing I learn. About to pull the trigger on a 12" Woodford frost-free (based on reccos on this forum) I see in the specifications list: "Not rated for continuous use."

After a brief internet rabbit hole I understand that this has to do with the anti-siphon system: these are not rated for continuous pressure.

Any suggestions for a good quality sillcock rated for continuous use?

(As you may have guessed I'm adding a timer based irrigation system for our plants and so will keep the bib/sillcock always on in the summer.)

decggdiegoEurora

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,575

    you can look at prier, they are the other bog high quality manufacturer but they aren't really intended to be used that way, might have to tee a second line off and out of the house to a vacuum breaker designed for irrigation systems and connect that to a hose bib or boiler drain.

    In_New_England
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,575

    look at the bottom of this, it looks like only using for 12 hours is part of the standard for sillcock vacuum breakers

    https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.supplyhouse.com/product_files/Prier-C-144D08-Product%20Overview.pdf
    In_New_Englanddiego
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,687

    None that I know of are rated for continuous use. That said, I am currently using mine for temporary drip potted, irrigation. The concern is that the built-in Vacuum Breaker (VB) will, with continued use, and therefore continuous pressure, discharge water from said VB. All of them are designed this way to discharge the back pressure. Also, your local code may not accept the sillcock to be used this way.

    Instead, maybe try something like this on a regular hose bib.

    81iD1iR5tcL._AC_UY218_.jpg

    You will need to winterize it as it is not "frost-proof." But it should offer a better result.

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 25,376

    Maybe just a regular hose bib protected by a RPZ up-stream of it. The hose bib type may spit water every time pressure is applied then removed. It's doing its job.

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • In_New_England
    In_New_England Member Posts: 164
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1861319#Comment_1861319

    I'm guessing https://www.supplyhouse.com/Woodford-14CP-12-MH-Model-14-12-1-2-MPT-x-Sweat-Inlet-Wall-Faucet-w-Metal-Handle

    (14CP-12-MH) - the 14 series - will work for my application. Would appreciate someone takign another look. There is no vacuum circuit breaker, so there is no 12 h limit.

    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1861325#Comment_1861325

    Yeah, I attach those between the spigot and the hose.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,575

    It is required to have backflow protection one way or another. RPZ valves are very expensive. The irrigation type vacuum breakers are quite a bit less expensive.

    In_New_EnglanddecggEurora
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,210

    This is all on a timer? Your simplest — and safest — bet is going to be an on/off valve in the building where it won't freeze, then a vacuum breaker, then a line going to the irrigation connection — with another valve out there somewhere which OPENS when the irrigation system is off, to dump pressure from the system.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    In_New_England
  • Karl Reynolds
    Karl Reynolds Member Posts: 73

    Look into the Woodford Model #32. While it does not state "continuous operation", it is designed for lawn sprinkler supply.

    In_New_England
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 25,376

    it looks like this 32 comes without the BFD function

    IMG_0732.jpeg

    I think all the model 14 have the vacuum breaker built in?

    IMG_0731.jpeg
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    mattmia2In_New_England
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,575

    The 32 is really just a very expensive valve, escutcheon, and union.

    In_New_EnglandIntplm.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 25,376

    Also a freezeless design with the shutoff inside the wall 12” or so

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    PC7060
  • In_New_England
    In_New_England Member Posts: 164
    edited 3:52AM

    I saw people on this forum were happy with Prier and I found the C-134 (Diamond) range of products ( https://www.prier.com/products/c-134/ ). Not cheap but not outrageous either, made in the USA (made, or assembled? either way …) I briefly considered Bluefin but decided if you all like Prier, I'll go with Prier.

  • In_New_England
    In_New_England Member Posts: 164
    edited 4:01AM
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1861361#Comment_1861361

    My plan is to replicate what I have now, but with a frost free bib

    [ sillcock ] → Y-splitter → (1, 2)

    1: backflow preventer → garden hose

    2: timer → backflow preventer → irrigation system

    (The Y-splitters I have have valves on each branch)

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,575

    the screw on vacuum breakers are really the same as the built in ones. either one will spray some water if the wrong pressure differential happens and either can fail to close after that either from debris or a degraded seal.

    Intplm.In_New_England
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,687
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1861399#Comment_1861399

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    But be sure to winterize.

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