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What is this part?
Hey guys. First I need to give the disclaimer that I'm not a plumbing professional. I would say I'm an above average DIY guy who has taken on some large projects for myself. Recently my wife noticed the ground outside our house pretty wet. We had also noticed our water bill had gone up substantially. So I started to dig down where the ground was the wettest and found a valve box with a inline valve and some other sort of check valve, or some other kind of item in-line. whatever this is, has a couple pin holes in it. I am posting a picture because I'm wondering what it is. The repair is rather straight forward, I just don't know what I'm looking for as a replacement part. Any help is appreciated. Oh, by the way, this is right in front of my house just before the slab.
WHere is the water meter...I'm assuming with the leak and your increased bill, it's closer to the street. Often, before the meter, the city is responsible. I can't tell from the picture what you have. It could be a pressure reduction valve, a check valve, or, if you have a sprinkler system, maybe a backflow preventer.
Jim DeBruycker
Important note - I'm not a pro
Retired Defense Industry Engineer; Schluter 2.5-day Workshop Completed 2013
Meter is near the street. This leaking part is just in front of my house, right in front of the slab. On the back side of the leaking part (closest to the house) is another needle valve (just like one you would see at a faucet to turn on your water hose).
A close up, in focus, and we'd have a better chance of identifying what's there.
Jim DeBruycker
Important note - I'm not a pro
Retired Defense Industry Engineer; Schluter 2.5-day Workshop Completed 2013
What ever it is seems like it should not be buried, If it is off of the main line.
It could be a shutoff valve that the city owns.
Most likely a watering system that was discontinued.
Last edited by DonL; 11-24-2012 at 05:30 PM.
Don't pay someone to do a job fast, when you can do a half-fast job yourself.
It is a "lousy" picture so we can't tell much about it. A partial side view would also be better than a picture of their tops. Almost EVERYONE thinks they are an "above average" DIYer.
Licensed residential and commercial plumber
I think it's what's left of a pressure reducing valve, the top bell having been rusted completely away.
No, plumbing ain't rocket science. Unlike rocket science, plumbing requires a license!
I think your are correct.Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer
It seems kind of silly to bury it.
Only in the city I guess.
Don't pay someone to do a job fast, when you can do a half-fast job yourself.
If it's a PRV (pressure reducing valve), then it's time to replace it anyway. If you house is on a slab, you may need to find a way to enter the home with a new line from the meter. Old pipe can be useless to work with. What age is the home?
And the water district can tell you what the street pressure is. If it's over 80 PSI, then it needs a PRV.
A PRV really should be located inside the house, and certainly not buried. It also might be a back flow prevention fixture for a sprinkler system. If that is what it is, it should not be buried either and should located where it can be tested by a certified inspection annually. The poor picture quality really leaves us guessing, but whatever it turns out to be, it should be replaced and as Terry points out, old galvanized pipe can be impossible to work with.
If it were a PRV with a missing top, he would not have any water, because it would have been the same as backing the screw all the way out for "zero" pressure. The "lower" item looks like the top of a broken gate valve which has been unscrewed from its body. But since it is a "lousy" picture we are all guessing.
Licensed residential and commercial plumber
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