“add-on” hose connection vacuum breaker (HCVB) replacement

[beer batter]

Trying to run the sprinklers and water is spraying out through my vacuum breakers. A quick google search tells me that some seels/washers have failed and the unit needs to be replaced. Problem is these things are installed with break away set screws, so there's no easy way to remove them.

Any suggestions?

I just can't imagine a design with break away set screws that are known to fail. I keep thinking I'm missing something here, but all google info points to a unit that has failed but has no way of easily being removed.

[jmd1]

look at where it connects to the incoming line and the sprinkler line. are there union fittings on each one? Mine is the same way and when the top started to leak just went to ace hrdwre and got a new on. replaced the whole thing in an hour. I have not heard of a kit for them that actually works. good luck

[chad austin]

Drill out the set screw and replace the unit.

[WallEYES]

Agreed...drill out set screw or take a hack saw and make a cut thru it and take a screw driver and stick in where you made the cut and pry off

[beer batter]

Found a youtube flick where a guy made a cut with a chop saw across the set screw, then used a screw driver to remove the set screw. I'll give that a whirl. Thanks for the suggestions.

Question for those in the know, why the break away set screws? Seems the governing body doesn't want joe homeowner messing with these things or what?

[chad austin]

Question for those in the know, why the break away set screws? Seems the governing body doesn't want joe homeowner messing with these things or what?

You got it.

[Archerysniper]

Your 100% correct it is code that they be installed and the set screw broke off so they can't be removed.

[beer batter]

Thanks for the information guys.

Trying to think of anything similar in the house where the installation of something is meant to never be able to be removed. I'm coming up empty. Heck, I can disconnect my gas line with a couple wrenches, seems a lot more dangerous than a HCVB. Strange to make something like a sill cock attachement unremovable.

[krinkle]

The city is not concerned with you harming yourself. They are concerned with you contaminating the city drinking water system and killing your neighbor. Then again they are not really concerned about you killing your neighbor either. What they are really concerned about is the following lawsuit that they would be responsible for by allowing you to introduce something into their drinking water system.

[Archerysniper]

+1^^^^^^

[Archerysniper]

Sorry but this is true and why they are important. I service different backflow preventer's a lot and just imagine if the water feed to the sulfuric acid tank was replaced or rendered useless they are no joke.

Human Blood in the Water System

Health Department officials cut off the water supply to a funeral home located in a large city, after it was determined that human blood had contaminated the fresh water supply. City water and plumbing officials sad that they did not think that the blood contamination had spread beyond the building, however, inspectors were sent into the neighborhood to check for possible contamination. The chief plumbing inspector had received a telephone call advising that the blood was coming from drinking water fountains within the building. Plumbing and county health department inspectors went to the scene and found evidence that the blood had been circulating in the water system within the building. They immediately ordered the building cut off from the water system at the meter.

Investigation revealed that the funeral home had been using a hydraulic aspirator to drain fluids from the bodies of human "remains" as part of the embalming process. The aspirator directly connected to the water supply system at the faucet outlet located on a sink in the "preparation" (embalming) room. Water flow through the aspirator created suction that was utilized to draw fluids through a hose and needle attached to the suction side of the aspirator.

The contamination of the funeral home potable water supply was caused by a combination of low water pressure in conjunction with the simultaneous use of the aspirator. Instead of the body fluids flowing into the sanitary drain, they were drawn in the opposite direction - into the potable water supply of the funeral home!