Winterize Backflow Preventer

[TwiceHorn 32014]

So, I have an in-ground backflow preventer.  Based on some of the talk in the winter weather thread, I decided I needed to "winterize it."  On the intertrons, it says close the upstream shutoff valve, turn the two backflow valves to 45 deg. and crack all the pressure relief valves.

Well, of course, when I go to the shut-off valve, the handle breaks off in my hand.  Crescent wrenches and channelloks are not making it budge and I am coming close to mutilating the bronze nub that turns the valve.

I talked to my sprinkler guy and he said don't worry about it, just close the upstream valve on the backflow and throw a towel in there.

Sound rational?

[freyguy 4366]

It's in-ground, you should be fine

[TwiceHorn 32014]

49 minutes ago, freyguy said:

It's in-ground, you should be fine

It is, but in a box.

[deadshank 24654]

1 hour ago, freyguy said:

It's in-ground, you should be fine

 

14 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

It is, but in a box.

So you killed it, put it in a coffin and buried it?

Stellar.

[DaysOff 8158]

What's in the box?

[MonkeyDoughnut 10765]

Throw a towel on it to be safe and should be fine. It's mainly the above ground where wind blows across them causing the freeze.  

[NeverMarryAStripper 22249]

Mine's above ground.  Trust me you don't want it to freeze and then thaw out while you're out of town for a week.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

11 minutes ago, DaysOff said:

What's in the box?

could be a cat, whether its dead or not is another equation.

[SKJ 1317]

schro-ding-ding-ding-er!

[gyroprotagonist 2597]

46 minutes ago, DaysOff said:

What's in the box?

[horn4life 3831]

On 2/11/2021 at 3:47 PM, TwiceHorn said:

It is, but in a box.

Leave South Austin's mom out of it....

[TwiceHorn 32014]

An additional data point.  We also have to have our backflows inspected annually (state requirement?).  Weirdly, we have two, one for fire sprinklers, one for yard irrigation and it's only the fire sprinkler that has to be inspected.

Anyway, that means I have a guy that is an expert on them.  He emailed me back, again, that it probably wasn't an issue but that closing one or both of the shutoff valves and doing a little insulation couldn't hurt.

The wild card is that neither of them probably has any experience with sub-10-degree temps.

 

[horn4life 3831]

You can always run an extension cord with an incandescent 100 watt light bulb in the hole and it wont freeze.  

 

[BottleRocket 659]

On 2/11/2021 at 4:11 PM, DaysOff said:

What's in the box?

 

[AnTiM 1685]

Never could understand why shutoff valves are such a piece of crap.  Had every one in our small town replaced when autoreaders were installed, two years and handle rusted off.  Hey folks, steel handle and brass valve in a wet environment are a bad idea!  I guess metallurgists never heard of electrolysis like I did in grade school science class.

[TwiceHorn 32014]

2 hours ago, AnTiM said:

Never could understand why shutoff valves are such a piece of crap.  Had every one in our small town replaced when autoreaders were installed, two years and handle rusted off.  Hey folks, steel handle and brass valve in a wet environment are a bad idea!  I guess metallurgists never heard of electrolysis like I did in grade school science class.

My handle was some kind of pot metal I think. White corrosion. Bronze lug though. 

 

In any event I don't think they employ many metallurgists at the valve companies.