[zeronine]

Last summer a town inspector told me I had to add a Pressure Vacuum Breaker, so I added it. Yesterday I tried to turn on my sprinklers and they didn't turn on.

I opened the valves on the Pressure Vacuum Breaker and 1 zone turned on bypassing the control panel. I tried to turn on other zones using the control panel with the valves open, but that didn't work. Can the Pressure Vacuum Breaker be installed wrong?

Everything was working fine before this was installed.

thanks

[zeronine]

This is my Pressure Vacuum Breaker

[Fine Edge]

What exactly is this supposed to fix? Is it for your house water or irrigation?
Never seen one installed on any irrigation we've come across.

[PSUscaper]

If one zone turned on without turning it on at the control box it sounds like a stuck valve.

There's a good chance, in the process of putting the pvb on, you got something in the line that clogged the valve and got it stuck. That may have nothing to do with the pvb.

As for PVB, they are required by law in NJ. I would imagine they also are in NY state, hence why you had to install one.

Don't they have license requirements in NY for irrigation contractors?

[zeronine]

A backflow prevention device is used to protect water supplies from contamination. Many types of backflow devices also have ports so that they can be tested or examined to ensure that they are functioning properly. A check valve is a common form of backflow preventer.

Backflow prevention protects the potable water system from from minor, moderate, and severe hazards. There are over 10,000 reported cases of backflow contamination each year. Some cases can be fatal. Backflow devices are required by law where needed and must be installed in accordance with plumbing code. A backflow assembly has test cocks and shut-off valves and must be tested each year, if relocated or repaired, and when installed.

[PSUscaper]

Yes, the info is correct.

But, what i'm saying is, if you are a contractor installing irrigation systems in NY without a irrigation license it is illegal. You can do it on your own property, but not for hire.

As for you problem, is there a master valve installed? When you turned on the other zones, was the first zone still on at the same time? If one valve is stuck on, then the others may not work as there is not enough pressure to turn on the next zone valve.

There could be a lot of other problems, and from what you stated so far, I don't think its the pvb.

If a irrigation company installed the system for you, and didn't put in a pvb to begin with, I would be VERY skeptical of their credibility, and can only imagine what other problems there may be. If you installed it yourself, It may be even harder to determine what is going on, as it sounds like this was your first system and lord only knows what is going on.

[zeronine]

the problem was on the valve, there's a bolt that was lose and I guess, it was letting all the pressure out, it was also leaking water. Once I tighten it, everything worked fine.

When I had the system blowen out, I guess the the guy didn't tighten it all the way.

As far as the license requirements in NY, I have no idea about that. I came home one day and found a notice on my door saying that I had to have it installed by a certain date.

[Fine Edge]

I'm fully aware of what a backflow preventer does, how it is built, etc.. but this pvb threw me off with the name and the look of it.
I assume they are one in the same, or at least serve the same purpose.
All of the backflows here in NC have to covered with an insulating device and the required linear footage of copper pipe is buried in the ground.