It's amazing what people will steal

C

CORT

Active Member
I can't believe that someone stole my irrigation backflow preventer last night. It looks like it was snapped off the PVC pipe either by foot or hammer. It's a pathetic sole that has to steal plumbing parts from a private residence. Even the best security system would not protect me from this type of theft. Plus, there's a pole light in the immediate vicinity. How should I protect my next backflow preventer? I would like to hire an armed guard, but that is hardly practical.
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Maybe a "pull-tab" sensor hooked to a DS10a?

Wondering if you area had a sudden reduction of temps that busted a lot of them. I know when this happened in Las Vegas a few years ago, you couldn't find these in any hardware store as they quickly sold out (not saying this makes it any less wrong to steal).
 
Hide it in one of those fake fiberglass rocks or some other disguise. Too bad those rocks are expensive.
 
Why is it above ground? Is that code in your area? All of ours are in the ground about a foot down buried in a work box. At least they left you a smiley face on the other cover ;)
 
Rupp said:
All of ours are in the ground about a foot down buried in a work box.
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Your 'backflow' preventers are mounted like this (i.e. not the sprinkler valves themselves)? I guess I'm surprised as mine is also mounted in the same fashion as shown in the pic above.
 
Pack it with c-4 next winter and wire it to blow when tampered with. Not too large of a charge to damage the house
 
http://www.backflowtheft.com/


CORT said:
I can't believe that someone stole my irrigation backflow preventer last night. It looks like it was snapped off the PVC pipe either by foot or hammer. It's a pathetic sole that has to steal plumbing parts from a private residence. Even the best security system would not protect me from this type of theft. Plus, there's a pole light in the immediate vicinity. How should I protect my next backflow preventer? I would like to hire an armed guard, but that is hardly practical.
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Does your local code allow you to locate it inside your garage? Storage shed?

Alternately, take a trip down to your local farm supply outlet and pick up a "fencer." Then knit your replacement plumbing a high voltage sweater.
 
Replace it with galvanized pipe and valve, and interconnect back to PC below grade. Makes it look a bit sturdier.
 
CORT said:
I can't believe that someone stole my irrigation backflow preventer last night. It looks like it was snapped off the PVC pipe either by foot or hammer. It's a pathetic sole that has to steal plumbing parts from a private residence. Even the best security system would not protect me from this type of theft. Plus, there's a pole light in the immediate vicinity. How should I protect my next backflow preventer? I would like to hire an armed guard, but that is hardly practical.
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I fabricated my backflow riser out of galvanized pipe from the meter all the way to the main line side of my system where it transitions to PVC underground. Not because I was concerned about someone stealing it but because of what sun does to PVC here in South Texas. I popped one off by just tapping it with riding mower by accident last year. If it looks like its all metal, they may think twice before trying to rip it off!

And I think it has to be a certain distance above your sprinkler heads by code... ;)
 
KB4OB said:
And I think it has to be a certain distance above your sprinkler heads by code... ;)
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I wonder why. Isn't the whole idea that this device prevents backflow no matter where they are located? Our water company just put them in for all of us that had sprinkler systems last year and they simply put them at the front of the meter.
 
It probably depends on local code, but it does make sense to mount them as shown in the OP's photo, above the ground so gravity helps prevent a "backflow" condition.
 
I know that some of the houses in my area have the backflow preventers mounted in the ground, so I need to find out exactly what the code requires. I like the idea of using galvanized pipe for strength, but I don't like the eventual deposits that narrow the galvanized pipe lumen. I would be reluctant to use galvanized pipe for this reason. Maybe schedule 80 PVC is a reasonable substitute. I still don't know how I am going to rework the backflow device that was stolen. There are at least two months before I need my irrigation system again. Thanks to all who replied to my original post. I may resurrect this thread after the rework is done.
 
They often aren't just backflow preventers - in some places code requires an air gap (anti-siphon) as well as the backflow preventer so that if a vacuum occurs in the supply line, the valve will only allow air back in - hence the requirement to have them ABOVE ground where groundwater and other contaminants cannot enter the supply line in a vacuum condition. All of South Florida requires them this way, for obvious reasons.
 
PS. Maybe some thug was prowling around your property and you came home so he tripped on it while running away, breaking it off, and it went flying into the neighbor's yard? ;-)
 
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