[Beers]

Hello awesome plumbers!

I have a bad PRV in my home, and I know I need to replace it. My problem is I don't have the $100 to buy the new PRV and replace it.

So my question is once you know that it is going bad; do you have to replace it right away? Or can you wait 6 months, a year, whatever?

Thanks in advance.

-Beers

[speedball1]

It all depends upon the street pressure. If you can tell me what PSI the valve is attempting to reduce I can answer your question. If the pressure is too high it can damage fittings and valves. Called your water company and get the information I need. Back to you, Tom

[Beers]

Thank you for replying speedball1. The city did come out and they told me the psi on the city end was 85. When I did the test in my home I get a psi reading of around 68. When I turn a faucet on it dips to 60, then if I flush a toilet it dips to 30, and takes forever to work its way back up.

Thanks for helping!

[massplumber2008]

Hi Beers

Hmmmm...does your PRV have a strainer like in my picture below? If it does, it sounds to me like the strainer needs to be cleaned...may just be clogged up a bit! Let us know more, OK?

Mark

[Beers]

Hello Mark,

Thank you for replying to my posting.

It looks more like the one pictured below. My home is only 4 years old also, this is the PRV the builder plumbers installed. Does it have a strainer? And if so, how to I clean it? Or should I just take it out and check for a clogg?

[Milo Dolezal]

Hello Beers,

Instead of replacing entire PRV, you can buy Washer Replacement Kit for that particular PRV. I think it sells for about $20.00 and includes new membrane and all washers needed to completely rebuild PRV. It is not hard to do and you need only basic tools. The PRV doesn't have to be removed from pipes.

Sometimes, you can find the PRV Repair Kit in Home Depot or Lowe's but sure bet would be to go to a plumbing supply store that caters to professionals ( like Ferguson Enterprises, etc ).

Yes, you should fix it in timely manner as high water pressure may cause strain on your house plumbing. However, I think it is not an "extreme" emergency that has to be dealt with immediately. I have seen houses to go without functioning PRV for years and not even noticing it.

Hope that helps

Milo

[Beers]

Thank you Milo, that is a lot better than $100! I'll try that I appreciate the help with this.

Thank you!

OK, so my PRV is a Zurn Wilkins 1" NR3. The Zurn website says it is discontinued, and I cannot find any repair kits at the plumbing stores in my areas or online. I can buy a new one for around $170 here in Utah, or online for a little as $80.

My question now is this.....maybe I should just buy a newer model that is 1" and replace the whole thing?

What do you guys suggest?

[Milo Dolezal]

You will have to match the size for size. If you get same manufacturer, you will just swap them w/o doing any modifications to the pipes that it attaches to. Get 1" Wilkins NR3 PRV and it will fit right in. Just unscrew the old one ( you can eve leave the old "union" side on the pipe the way it is ), and install new one. It is an easy swap.

In my area, they sell for around $100.00... so the $80.00 sounds good. Get it. Price is definitely right.

Back to you. Milo

[Beers]

Thanks Milo, you have been very helpful.

Just out of curiosity, when I took my prv off I removed the inner filter thing, and there was no debri in there, but a cloth thread. So I'm just curious why it stopped working, it seems so simple of a device. There was a lot of green corrosion on the rubber rings I noticed.

Just curious, thanks for all your help! I'm off to the plumbing store! :D

Milo,

Just wanted to update you, they didn't have my model in stock, but I bought another Wilkins one. It fit size for size just like you said. Was easy install, and now my water pressure it great! Thank you again for your help.

[Milo Dolezal]

Good news ! Glad it worked !

Make sure you stop by next time you have another plumbing-related question

Milo

[Beers]

I will for sure!

[afaroo]

Milo is a life saver, Thanks.

John