Thank you! Local plumber took one look at the Zurn Wilkins 975XL2 (1") outside the house, came back from his truck and quoted $2000 to replace it. No thank you, checked RU-vid and watched your video, opened Check Valve #1 and found a tear in the orange seal ring. Our local plumbing supply store had a maintenance parts kit (springs, seals, relief diaphragm gasket, o-rings, grease, ~$45). This repair was very quick and easy, your video was inspirational on fixing ourselves. We had to also replace the relief valve diaphragm gasket and seal (the torn seal in CV1 did not totally stop the vent flow), and did Check Valve #2 as long as we had everything underway. The Zurn website had 2 helpful videos as well. Thanks!! Still can't believe the plumber that didn't try the simple and inexpensive repair!
You are awesome, Adam. I had a huge leak, and your DIY fixed it right up. Honestly, I didn't think it would work but I was 100% wrong. This fixed literally saved me around $400-$550. I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video. And thanks to RU-vid for providing this free service.
You just saved me over $400 to have a plumber come out and remove gravel. Did it myself, you were spot on with the gravel and thanks for the tip on flushing. Had the water line repaired and there was some gravel in the valve. Thank you very much!
I had no idea what was going on so haphazardly googled what I thought I needed help with and up popped your video. After viewing your video only once I went outside and took care of the problem in less than 10 minutes ... and I’m “handy” challenged! The process was perfectly stated and so easily understood. Thank you!!!
Thank you Adam!! I have been struggling when i watered my lawn and just came across your video. Took less than 5 minutes to find the debris, reverse the washer and get the unit back together. NO LEAKS!!!! Awesome!
I was having this exact problem and these instructions solved it. I went to Lowe's and they told me it was a split from winter and that I needed to replace it. I was surprised because I clear my own lines pretty thoroughly and I haven't had a problem before. I bought the new backflow preventer and thought first to see if there were any videos about similar issues. This video saved me $100 dollars and a few hours back from my day! Thanks!
I was heading to the store to buy a new back flow preventer. Thought I'd check out youtube first. Cleaned out the #1 valve just like your video instructed and it stopped leaking from the bottom. (10 mins. tops) Amazing ...you just saved me $400. Thank you Sir ! Bill Sawyer/ Raleigh NC
As a DIYer, for the very first time, I replaced the broken valve (the original froze). Installation went well. But when I charged the system, water was pouring from the BRAND NEW valve. I couldn't believe it. But, I followed your instructions and determined that check valve #1 was at fault. I removed it and sure enough, the there was debris on the BRAND NEW gasket. I cleaned it off, put if back together, re-charged the system and... no leaks! You had it exactly right! Thank you for making it easy, for teaching me, and for saving me big bucks!!
Adam, thanks so much for posting this video. I am yet another person that was helped by it. Lunker, I appreciated all of your comments except one. Don't tell Adam "You missed many things in this video but at least you tried" (you must be a young pup). Thank him for posting the video and not disabling the comments so that you could add a lot of good information that was missing. I was in the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union myself (I'm an old pup) for some time and have not been afraid to tackle any plumbing job around the house until this one. Then I saw this video and had it fixed in a few minutes. The one tip I will add that was taught to me a long time ago by an oldtimer in the trades was to use Vaseline anytime I was using an O Ring or Compression Ring in plumbing (sink, drain, whatever). I used it on the O Ring and I even used a little on the poppet gasket after I flipped it over (and put a little Sharpie dot on the top of the washer so I knew which way was out). I wiped off all the excess Vaseline though so it left a film. Stretched the spring a tad put it back together and no more leaking.
Fixed! You just saved me a ton of money vs. calling a plumber. Wish I had watched it days ago so I didn’t leak hundreds of gallons. Thank very, very much.
Thanks for the video. My vent was leaking. Followed your steps. Found the debris (small piece of plastic) preventing valve #1 from closing. Removed it. Works now. Saved me a bunch of time and money. Thanks again.
I just fixed my leak, as a single mom, this was very helpful!! My problem was not debris, but the rubber seal had somehow got tangled in the spring! It was preventing a seal. I took the top off and untangled it, and now it's working perfectly. Thank you!!
Worked like a charm--debris in Check Valve #1 just like this video. Flipped the rubber seal--no leak. Saved the money and time of getting a plumber out. Thanks!
Thank you! I just followed instructions, unscrewed both relief valves as I didn’t see any debris in #1. Upon reinstall and water turned back on, leak is gone! Will check back tomorrow. Thanks for the video!
Adam, watched your video. Like one of the previous commenters, I followed your directions and fixed my drip in less than 10 minutes. I have no idea how much it would have cost me to get a plumber to look at it. Thank you so much.
Worked for me on the back flow valve coming into my house from main (ie: not on irrigation). Note, I did it twice in a row because after the first time, more grit got in there. The second time did the trick. Thank you! You just saved me a $900 replacement repair (as quoted by local plumber).
I want to sincerely thank you for posting that video. I was just about to call an irrigation place to look at my ins since it was doing exactly what you showed. Sure enough I took off cap number one and there was debris. You rarely find help videos that are precise, but yours was perfect. Thank you so much for doing that. You saved me a bunch of inconvenience. Have a blessed day.
Adam, thanks so much for a clear and concise video. I had the exact issue you described. Used your fix, found a shard of hard plastic, and it's fixed! Thank you for saving me an expensive service call!
My backflow was leaking as described. Called the irrigation person. He installed a new backflow for $450. Sure wish I had looked at your excellent video. If it happens again, I will know what to do. Thanks so much.
Amazingly simple! After watching this video it took me less than 10 minutes to gather my tools, run through the checks, reverse the washer, put everything back together, & test. Problem solved. Thanks so much for posting.
Worked on my parents bpv today and had this problem. My Dad hates this part of summerizing their house because of these things. He's had to replace them so man times, however he's never had this exact problem. Was worried we'd have to take the entire thing apart to try and repair it. Less than 5 minutes after this video I had it fixed and working perfectly. Huge relief, thank you for this.
Superb video! Very well imaged, to the point and with clear complete instructions. It is surprisingly difficult to make a good DIY video, but this one nails it. And the solution worked. Should be a model for others.
Thanks, Adam, I really appreciate this video. Thank you for taking the time to explain how to fix it. And not only that but giving the part names and how it works. ❤
Great video, just installed the backflow valve after the winter season and notices a leak. Watched the video and sure enough it was the valve #1 issue. Cleaned the gasket but still leaked although less. I reversed the gasket and it was fixed. Great video!
Hi Adam. Thank you. Best I have seen on RU-vid. Very informative and to the point. No none seance. you saved me a lot of time and money. straight to the point no show. thank you. put more videos. you are the best. Ben
Solved my problem. It was the #1 valve. Easy to do with your instructions. I cleaned everything and flipped the rubber seal as there was an unusual indentation on it.
I had fixed my back flow preventer a few years ago but forgot about how easily debris can cause it to leak. One minute and it was fixed! Thanks for the video.
Great video..my newly installed backflow preventer was leaking from the vent..as instructed I pulled the cover off the number one check valve and found a small piece of plastic that was preventing it from closing..removed it and all is good. Thank you.
Brilliant! I was figuring I'd have to wait for a plumber, pay them a few hundred buck... instead, I just fixed it myself in 10 minutes. THANK YOU! FYI, I don't have that exact model, but your video was so clear, it was easy to figure it out.
Thank you Adam ! Good demonstration and explanation. When backing the top of #1 valve, I found the seal plunger under the spring stuck. No spring pressure when removing the cap. Cleaned it, reversed the rubber seal at the plunger valve, problem solved ! Thanks again !
Great video and thanks. I got my backflow valve issue resolved in about 10 mins and likely saved several hundred dollars by not having to call a plumber. God bless You and God bless RU-vid.
Thanks for the video very helpful indeeed. After opening up a system that has been dormant for 10+ years. The leaking releif valve seemd to be the mody major issue I had a couple of minor rocks flushed it out and flipped @2 gasket. Just leaking around the cover now a new gasket and I should be good to go! Now to replace about 6 heads and trace down another control box I should be good to go!
Just had my annual back flow inspection. Just like every year, it leaks. Gee, I am surprised. Usually they charge me $300+ to rebuild it. This time, I wasn't paying their ransom and found this video and BOOM! Leak fixed in under 10 minutes. A new inspection company came out and I had my recertification for $15.
Awesome! Thanks you so much for the video. You saved me money, work and time. My rental was doing this exact thing after I replaced a shut off section of the backflow. Once I opened it up like you showed it had debris on the rubber seat area. It need to be fixed because the lawn was burning up.
Let me first say that this 975 XL is a great valve and should be repaired rather than replaced. Other brand valves not so much. I am a tech and have had my own business for over 11 years. You missed many things in this video but at least you tried. Lets first note why this valve failed. See the galvanized pipes that supply water? Terrible idea but some municipalities require it. Remember the debris on the seals? They are particles of rust from those pipes that broke off and got wedged in Check Valve #1. While you had the valve open you should stand back and turn Shut Off #1 on and off a few times and let it run for 10 seconds otherwise in a month you will be doing this repair again. Flush everything that is loose and ready to break off and cause this problem again. It is not unusual when you turn the shut off on full for the first time to flush the valve to see dark colored water shoot out at first. That is all the crap in the supply line getting pushed out. You should ALWAYS lightly lube the o-rings (Food grade lubricant is required here, not automotive grease or oil. Super Lube at sports stores or sometimes box stores says right on the back that it is a food grade lubricant) before you put the valve back together and do not crank that cap on too tight or the two metal surfaces will weld themselves together. You are only squeezing that o-ring and not binding the metal together like you do when putting threaded PVC pipe together. Snug then a little more. If you crank on that too much you may never get it off again and you will have to replace the entire valve rather than repair it. You should have flipped that seal before putting that poppet back in or it will almost always drip when you get done. When you do that make sure the other side of the seal is in good shape and there is no sand or debris when you flip that seal over. There is a large metal washer under the screw on the poppet. Feel the edge of the washer because one side is smooth where the other side is sharp. The smooth side faces the seal so it will not cut the seal over time. I always knew when a customer tried to do a repair on their own when I found that washer upside down. The Check Valve #1 spring is a five pound spring but the Check Valve #2 spring is a one pound spring. Do not get them mixed up or the valve will be leaking when you finish. (Jeff Chambers, are you paying attention to that?) Do the same thing to Check Valve #2 as you do to #1 just do not mix the springs. You should not need to open the Relief Valve unless there is water leaking from the hole in the center of the Relief Valve cover plate. You could have a tear in the relieve diaphragm but only do that repair when all else fails. I use my differential pressure gauge to determine if there is a problem but if you have one of those you probably would not be reading this. Note: I have rebuilt many hundreds of this valve. Work cleanly by washing all parts with clean water, remove all sand and debris, and clean the inside of the valve as well and flush the valve before reinstalling the parts. Use an old toothbrush. Sometimes the brand new parts and spotless cleaning will still result in dripping when you are done. Generally that comes from the seal in CV #1 and CV #2 to not get seated well against the seat inside the valve. Take those sections apart and reinstall the poppets when that happens. Sometimes it happens. One other tip they do not tell you even in repair class: SLIGHTLY stretch the spring on CV #1 and #2 before reinstalling them. That will put slightly more pressure between the seal and the seat so they can mold to each other but only stretch them a little. NEVER: lube the seals, only the o-rings!
Thanks for the detailed info. My vent is dripping intermittently even I closed both inlet and outlet tap. I changed spring in check valve no 1 and rubber seal and also diaphragm still unable to find what causes it. Zurn says it is fluctuations of water pressure. But it was good until this started. Can you give some advice ?
Adam, Thank you so much! This video is wonderful...As @depecheboyWalker stated you saved me hundreds. I was very nervous about the leak and I could not reach the person that performed the backflow inspection 6 months ago...Your video also made me realize that I should replace the cutoffs. Awaiting arrival of my repair kit from the links that you provided above to fix this leak properly, MYSELF! Thank you again.
@AdamDIY thanks for video had a couple tiny rock/peeble(s) in preventer 1 took those out and solved 90% of the issue still have a small drip every 5 - 10 seconds coming out the bottom. insane how a tine peeble could cause so much water to leak out
Adam Love the video. Very helpful. I changed all the parts of the 2 check valves as well as the diaphragm of the release valve and there’s still a minute fine pressure leak at the release valve. I tightened all the bolts securely twice. Any advice please
Great video that explained everything quickly and accurately. I cleaned both of my valves in less than 10 minutes and had it lubricated and leak free because of this video. Thanks again!
Appreciate this video! Helped me fix the leak. Now I am wondering that since we don't have an irrigation system any longer ( previous homeowner took the system with them ) can I just close the valves off completely?
Question. Is this double valve system last longer then the traditional febco style backflow preventer? I don't see the febco style in industrial style systems. I do see yours especially with city water, etc.
Great video! I had the same problem. Your instructions told me exactly how to fix it. The only problem I had is that I couldn’t unscrew the cap. I tried WD-40 and tapping with a hammer but it wouldn’t come loose. I came back to it after 2 hours and it had loosened up and I got it open and cleaned it out.
Okay - that’s my problem too. This is my precise leak problem and valve model and I can’t get the cap to unscrew. I’m going to try WD-40 and tapping the way you described and a little bit more patience. 😀
Ugh - it didn’t fix mine. It still leaks. Now I think I’m gonna takeoff the other cap on the number two, however, it’s upside down and it’s not coming off either so I think I need to take the whole thing apart to work on it separately. Anybody else know anything about this?
