costumer demands pay their water bill

[1idejim]

Originally Posted by RandalatA1Sprinklers

customers never cease to amaze me. I had a guy this spring that turned his system on in April cuz we had a few nice days. then we had a hard freeze again which froze and split his pvb. he accused me of not winterizing right. when I got there his water was off but the drain ports on his pvb were closed. hmm, I had them open when I winterized it. even told him make sure he shut them when he turned on in spring. oops he forgot to open them back up before I arrived. he denied he turned it on early. told him I would fix it but I would have to charge him. he told me nevermind he would fix it. then this fall he called me to winterize it. told him no thanks, I didnt need his money. he was a jag from day one on his install. then his neighbor let it slip that he did have sprinklers on in april. just confirmed what i already knew.

The best way to avoid situations like these are to use a lockout device on the supply valve.

Finding an easily accessable induction port can be tough. Figuring in a garden valve or test tee is the best advice i can give anyone that installs.

Many times i have few options and will have to install a test loop for pressure induction.
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[irritation]

Originally Posted by 1idejim

Finding an easily accessable induction port can be tough. Figuring in a garden valve or test tee is the best advice i can give anyone that installs.

I use a test **** on the backflow preventer or the blowout tee.

Who the hell redesigned this forum? They should be fired for too much freetime.

[1idejim]

Originally Posted by irritation

I use a test **** on the backflow preventer or the blowout tee.

Who the hell redesigned this forum? They should be fired for too much freetime.

Do you as a rule pressure test the main while you are working on the rest of the system?
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[irritation]

Hell no, but when I test the backflow I listen for flow when I turn it back on.

[1idejim]

Originally Posted by irritation

Hell no, but when I test the backflow I listen for flow when I turn it back on.

That'll help. Indvction through the testcock works too.
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[Mike Leary]

I'm not sure what the big deal is. We always installed a quick-couple valve downstream of the backflow, not only for compressor-winterize, but to test the integrity of the mainline as the system was being installed. It may have already been mentioned, but the clock is the first thing I'd be checking, especially if hubbie is running the show.

[irritation]

I would not use a quick coupler for a pressure test.

The leak should have been noticed during winterization unless you just stand back and watch. I always walk the yard and look for problems, there should have been a wet area if there was a leak.

[Duekster]

I typically look at the meter with every thing off in the house. If the meter is moving then I turn off at the back flow to verify no leak in the house. If it seems to be the irrigation system them I will investigate further.

I have found leaks to the household this way before. It was wet outside the house near the service stop and the HO swore it was the irrigation. Indeed some irrigation lines were in the area as well.

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by irritation

I would not use a quick coupler for a pressure test.
there should have been a wet area if there was a leak.

Usual crock from you. (A) Explain why a pressure gauge on a quick couple does not indicate the status of the main line, And (B) You must walk the site in bare feet. I've found leaks that a cold call walk-through never found, only a compressor and water could find the air bubbles or the noise of the compressor indicating a break.

[1idejim]

The point of pressure testing the "irrigation mainline" is to prove or disprove the presence of a leak within the scope of the installers liability.

No leak, no problem.

Installer caused leak, Fix-it-NOW!

Meters don't lie but they don't prove or disprove the location. If you get a solid 15-30 minute test you should be fine. I use 2-5 minute tests most of the time myself.
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