screaming outdoor taps

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Created by

decrepit > 9 months ago, 26 Apr 2021

decrepit

12802 posts

26 Apr 2021 2:49pm

Fixed this nuisance the other day, removed this culprit.

Now I've been told they are required by law to prevent any contamination getting back into the mains.
So do we have to put up with the screaming??? Any plumbers here that know just what the requirements say?

FormulaNova

15090 posts

26 Apr 2021 5:24pm

What is that? Is it a flow restrictor of some type?

I am not a plumber, but my understanding is that a normal tap (with a washer) is sufficient as the washer stops backflow.

I will wait for an actual plumber to jump in and tell me I am so wrong that I have endangered society as we know it.

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

26 Apr 2021 7:29pm

It an intergalactic space drive modulator.

kk

953 posts

26 Apr 2021 6:12pm

I haven't had them scream but they seriously reduce flow, like all poorly designed items people find a work around to them, removal in this case. Mean while the seat polishers take the moral high ground screaming "you can't do that"!!!!

But we do

Kamikuza

QLD

6493 posts

26 Apr 2021 8:23pm

Drill out the guts?

decrepit

12802 posts

26 Apr 2021 6:41pm

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Kamikuza said..
Drill out the guts?

Nuh I don't think the gust are the problem, It"s all those holes on the outside. They relief any back pressure, but I think also suck air in when water flows in the forward direction, I think that's what makes the screaming.
Anyway, it's easier just to remove it

decrepit

12802 posts

26 Apr 2021 7:01pm

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FormulaNova said.. >>I am not a plumber, but my understanding is that a normal tap (with a washer) is sufficient as the washer stops backflow.

I will wait for an actual plumber to jump in and tell me I am so wrong that I have endangered society as we know it.

That's my take. I've never seen anything like this before, and I've see a lot of taps.
I presume it may be for when retic is connected to the taps instead of directly from mains, or even perhaps when a hose with an adjustable spray nozzle can be turned off at the nozzle. The flexible hose can hold a bit of pressure. If there's a problem with the mains, some water can flow back out of the hose.
But I don't see why it needs the pressure relief holes, a simple one way flow valve should be adequate.

cauncy

8407 posts

26 Apr 2021 7:35pm

Its a flow capacitor

Carantoc

7194 posts

26 Apr 2021 8:22pm

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decrepit said..
...Any plumbers here that know just what the requirements say?

Not a plumber but I reckon you can do what you like until you get caught.

Just remove it and don't tell anyone...... oh too late for that.

Subsonic

3384 posts

26 Apr 2021 10:19pm

Not sure what the go is legally, but i do recall my plumber mate telling me how someone died from drinking from a hose that had sucked back something it shouldn't have.

something along the lines of a hose hooked up to a sprayer, so open to mains and the mains sucked back some of whatever the nasty stuff the sprayer had in it. Then someone took a drink.

myusernam

QLD

6154 posts

27 Apr 2021 8:37am

you do need a backflow on your irrigation circuit. but if it's just a garden tap?..

decrepit

12802 posts

27 Apr 2021 8:50am

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Subsonic said..
Not sure what the go is legally, but i do recall my plumber mate telling me how someone died from drinking from a hose that had sucked back something it shouldn't have.

something along the lines of a hose hooked up to a sprayer, so open to mains and the mains sucked back some of whatever the nasty stuff the sprayer had in it. Then someone took a drink.

That makes a very good case for putting something back, but can I do it without the screaming?

kiterboy

2614 posts

27 Apr 2021 10:40am

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Sounds like a nice urban myth there.

A mate told me, that he heard from someone else, who was told about it by their cousin's girlfriend's dog walker's brother...

psychojoe

2239 posts

27 Apr 2021 4:53pm

I come across these things all the time and half of them are just plain faulty. I think you can get your plumber to put a one way relief after your Meter so you don't need these but it would be heaps cheaper to just replace it. They've got a grub screw in the side that the plumber is supposed to break off at installation to make it tamper proof, I damaged some threads before I learnt that one.

decrepit

12802 posts

27 Apr 2021 8:00pm

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psychojoe said..
I come across these things all the time and half of them are just plain faulty.

So you think it screams because it's faulty, and a new one will be quiet? Guess I should get one and find out

Subsonic

3384 posts

27 Apr 2021 10:49pm

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kiterboy said..

Sounds like a nice urban myth there.

A mate told me, that he heard from someone else, who was told about it by their cousin's girlfriend's dog walker's brother...

Normally i'd write it off as a myth too. But his story was quite in depth (im just rehashing what i can remember), and he was telling it because water corp had just paid a visit to check compliance at our workshop. Im not sure how it goes legal wise at a private dwelling. They certainly don't advertise it if its a legal requirement.

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

28 Apr 2021 7:19am

Really . I mean how much poison is going to get sucked back into the water supply system . I wouldn't think much , all the way up the hose and into the mains . And we're talking fertiliser not Roundup .
Possibly , if your using a booster pump with a pressurised tank ?
Or , if you use a bore integrating existing house piping ?
Or , tank and pump integrating existing house plumbing ?
The more I think about people doing dumb stuff , mabee the jigger is a good idea .

decrepit

12802 posts

28 Apr 2021 8:41am

The worst I can think of, is draining your sceptic tank, then leaving the hose in it while it refills. sudden lose of mains pressure, and every thing you've put in the tank goes back down the mains.
But that won't happen here. I've checked online and the device is only around $20, so if I'm in the mood I'll probably refit. Ours are definitely faulty, the holes are meant to be sealed while mains water is running.

Imax1

QLD

4926 posts

28 Apr 2021 11:44am

Put in a Gortex vent

Harrow

NSW

4521 posts

28 Apr 2021 1:42pm

Is this a WA thing?

Ian K

4164 posts

28 Apr 2021 3:27pm

I can't find one. How does it work? Circular Tesla valve?

saltiest1

NSW

2562 posts

28 Apr 2021 5:34pm

Well I could perhaps fill you in.
it's a vacuum breaker preventing nasties getting into the house supply and ultimately the mains. It's very unlikely but does happen and just needs negative pressure (fire engine, broken main, shutdown) to pull junk into the line. The screaming tends to be a washer spinning at a fast rate or jumping quickly. Simply replace washer with a copper stem type and pinch the stem then tapping it into the spindle. Should be a tight fit.

saltiest1

NSW

2562 posts

28 Apr 2021 5:36pm

Also it's not just a WA thing. Australian Standard.

decrepit

12802 posts

28 Apr 2021 9:21pm

Thanks Corey, I'll have a go at pulling one apart and see if I can find this naughty washer

saltiest1

NSW

2562 posts

29 Apr 2021 5:58am

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decrepit said..
Thanks Corey, I'll have a go at pulling one apart and see if I can find this naughty washer

Usually the washer in the tap itself. Not the breaker valve. Those are non serviceable.

decrepit

12802 posts

29 Apr 2021 8:37am

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saltiest1 said..>>>Usually the washer in the tap itself. Not the breaker valve. Those are non serviceable.

So the breaker valve cause the tap washer to vibrate?
Because with the valve removed it's completely silent.

saltiest1

NSW

2562 posts

29 Apr 2021 5:06pm

It can yes. Personally I wouldn't bother too much about replacing the breaker valve. You should but....

decrepit

12802 posts

29 Apr 2021 5:38pm

Thanks Corey, yes I'm not too bothered either.

Cobra

9106 posts

30 Apr 2021 6:44pm

Buy a new one.
stop being a tight arse

decrepit

12802 posts

30 Apr 2021 7:38pm

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Cobra said..
Buy a new one.
stop being a tight arse

So are they fitted to your taps?

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