Blowing out Wilkins 720A test port.

[milsaps118]

I picked up a new blowout customer. System was installed by a large recognized landscape company here in MN. To my surprise craftsmanship looked like a lowballers install.

Anyway....Copper supply line out of house leads to PVB. Then they used PVC instead of copper to go in-ground to feed main. Copper coming out of house has no where to connect to blowout, ie, 1/2", 3/4" cap/plug. Instead they installed a faucet valve INSIDE the house to use as the blowout connection but it is not easily accessible since the home owner finished his basement and dry walled it in.

Home owner wants me to blowout thru test port on a Wilkins 720A. I tell him I won't do it unless he assumes any of the damages that may/might occur to the PVB.

I'm not trying to get into the debate of "Yeah it's OK", or "No it's not OK" to use the test ports to blowout lines, I just need to know which port to use, the top or bottom test port?

I NEVER blow thru the test ports so this method is new to me.

[DanaMac]

I just need to know which port to use, the top or bottom test port?


Which ever works. try the bottom one. Close incoming ball valve so it doesn't blow into house. Be done. Move on. Shouldn't be an issue.

[hoskm01]

Blew a good number through the 1/8'er this season. Sucks, but works.

[milsaps118]

Which ever works. try the bottom one. Close incoming ball valve so it doesn't blow into house. Be done. Move on. Shouldn't be an issue.

10-4, sounds good.

[bdb]

Is there a quick coupler valve in the ground? I know some guys use those and the faucet in the basement for drain back. Or yes the test ports will work. I would use the bottom one to make sure the poppet stays sealed up. Nothing should happen as far as freezing. You just can't get the volume so just do one zone at a time. With the air hooked up you can open the valve inside and blow the water out on that side as well.

[DanaMac]

You just can't get the volume so just do one zone at a time.

How many times do I have to say it - I can do 2-4 zones at a time going through a testport/testcock/petcock/whatever. My compressor is a 100 cfm set at 80 psi right now.

[Mike Leary]

How many times do I have to say it - I can do 2-4 zones at a time going through a testport/testcock/petcock/whatever. My compressor is a 100 cfm set at 80 psi right now.

Being a certified backflow assembly tester, how many times do I have to say it- only dorks blow through assemblies. :hammerhead:

[DanaMac]

Glad you're a backflow tester.

Maybe I'll change my ways when they start testing. maybe.

[Mike Leary]

Maybe I'll change my ways when they start testing. maybe.

Why don't YOU start testing?

[DanaMac]

Why don't YOU start testing?

Why do I want to pay for testing, the equipment, and yearly calibrating/testing of the equipment, trying to get more insurance and customers, when there is minimal requirement of it here? Homes are not tested. At all. Sprinkler systems on commercial systems are rarely RARELY tested. Only ones that I really know of are at restaurants and for fire systems. i looked into it a few years ago.

And no time anyway. Can't keep up on what we do now. haven't found another person to have work for us.

Oh, and I just don't wanna

[Mike Leary]

Oh, and I just don't wanna

10-4, good buddy, I understand.

[AI Inc]

Why do I want to pay for testing, the equipment, and yearly calibrating/testing of the equipment, trying to get more insurance and customers, when there is minimal requirement of it here? Homes are not tested. At all. Sprinkler systems on commercial systems are rarely RARELY tested. Only ones that I really know of are at restaurants and for fire systems. i looked into it a few years ago.

And no time anyway. Can't keep up on what we do now. haven't found another person to have work for us.

Oh, and I just don't wanna

If ya decide to , there is always used test equit for sale around here. Guys buy them , and then realize there isnt a market for it here either.

[turfman59]

I blew out at least 50 systems this year through the test port, It never seemed to matter, over the last 5 years I have changed only about 2 Poppit assemblys a year out of the 120 winterizations I do.... Is this a high failure rate????

[hoskm01]

I blew out at least 50 systems this year through the test port, It never seemed to matter, over the last 5 years I have changed only about 2 Poppit assemblys a year out of the 120 winterizations I do.... Is this a high failure rate????
Depends how old they were.

[turfman59]

4-10 years old on average

[AI Inc]

Also depends on water quality too. Around here 8-12 yrs seems to be the max life span.