PRV Replacement

[AD33]

Hello all
Can you help me identify these pipe types in the photos? I can't tell if it's copper or some other standard. This is coming directly off my city main.



My water pressure was running at 120psi and adjusting my PRV made no difference so I assume it is bad. I dug it up and this is what I found.

I assume I can just wrench the nut off the one side then screw the whole valve off the other side. Is there anything special that needs to be done to this fitting type? Any special compounds in the threads or can I just screw it on tight? (Just trying to make sure I know what I am doing before I pull it apart.

Thanks
Brent

 

[MicEd69]

Yes, that is copper tubing with NPT threaded pipe adapters solder on.

You need to use either Teflon tape, or my preference is a thread sealing paste with Teflon. on the threaded connections, but not on the union joint.

 

[AD33]

OK thanks MicEd. The tag is pretty worn but appears to say the size is 3/4. Is that referring to the inlet (union) side?
My local Home Depot only sells 1 inch in the Watts N45B so should I use an adapter or order 3/4 from elsewhere

 

[AD33]

Also, this might be a dumb question but my 20yr old tag is green while the new ones are blue. Does the color indicate anything or is that just a style change over the years

 

[MicEd69]

With your pipe already set for 3/4" you probably don't have enough room to install a 1" PRV plus the adapters to make it fit. And unless you can get an exact replacement, you may have to do that anyway.

As long as the PRV has the correct pressure range and flow rate, it will be fine.

 

[AD33]

NEW PROBLEM!
I dug a little deeper to make room to rotate the new valve onto the threaded end (so as not to have to remove the soldered connector on the copper pipe) and I discovered this red and blue pipes which I assume ore electrical high voltage. There isn't enough room above them to rotate the valve off or on. So now what?

 

[Twowaxhack]

Orange is communications, like phone or cable.

The blue should be water.

You’ll need to dig further back horizontally and cut the copper. I’d move the valve so this won’t be a problem next time.

 

[AD33]

My skill stops at cutting the copper and resoldering so I called in a plumber. With further examination, there are other pipes for irrigation in close proximity so he suggested leaving this valve (since it is allowing maximum throughput) and just adding in another one somewhere else that has better access. Is there any reason I shouldn't do that?

 

[Twowaxhack]

My skill stops at cutting the copper and resoldering so I called in a plumber. With further examination, there are other pipes for irrigation in close proximity so he suggested leaving this valve (since it is allowing maximum throughput) and just adding in another one somewhere else that has better access. Is there any reason I shouldn't do that?

The old PRV should be removed.

Find another plumber. Don’t ever hire that plumber again.

 

[MicEd69]

I would remove that valve and replace it with a piece of copper pipe and then install a new PRV at a better location if it were mine.

 

[Twowaxhack]

It can fail and allow zero water to flow through like this one did.

My customer didn’t have water until I found and replaced it.

Imagine if it was buried in some random place and another plumber had to “ find “ it. You’re talking hundreds of dollars in labor just to located it.

 

[AD33]

Thanks all. I agree with putting in a straight piece and relocating. Seems the simplest solution