HowTo Get Rid of That Horrible BackFlow Preventer on Your Hose Spigot

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~Video Details~
The Anti-Siphon Valves or Back-Flow Preventers that are now required on outside hose spigots are very prone to failure, especially in hard water areas. If yours has started leaking or making funny noises, it should be replaced with a new one or bypassed all together with a SpigotMaster. In this video I show how to remove your old vacuum breaker and replace it with a SpigotMaster to get rid of the problem all together. I even show how to drill out the set screw if yours is broken off.

Watch My Other Videos on This Subject:
1- Fix Your BackFlow Preventer With an $8 Single Stage Model:

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[ThatGuy-spte]

My house is pretty new (2006) and 2 of the 3 exterior hose spigots have back flow preventers. One sprays on hose nozzle shut off, as expected, but it also leaks a lot during use. We have high calcium carbonate in the city water (183 ppm). With the help of this video I removed the back flow preventer by drilling out the set screw. I had to use 3 drill bits, #35, #22, #16 each progressively larger until it could be turned with channel locks. Then filed the damaged threads with a small "V" file. My hose washer was a little pitted, so I turned it over and magically, no leak, no spray. Luckily my set screw was on the side, my spigot threads were standard and it was only 102 degrees at noon here in the desert . My patio mister is a success! Thank you. Good job Mr Days.

[steveleyden]

I tried an easy-out at first but the set screw wouldn't budge. Luckily I found this video. It took almost an hour to drill out my screw but it finally worked. Thanks for posting this video.

[AgentOffice]

People poison their neighbors this way

[CHAOSMOVEMENT]

Thank you from 10 years in the future. Got that piece of crap off my faucet and now I'm running leak free.

[snackymcgoo]

15 years ago that black rtv tube was full. But, with the modern and helpful marvels of backflow preventers, you have all but used it up. Thanks big government!

[crashk]

I think he meant "Dissimilar" rather than "Dielectric". Electrolysis is caused by a difference in electrochemical potential, thus If the joint was dielectric then you could not have electrolysis. Dielectric of course meaning something that for all intent and purpose is non conductive. Also there are some valid reasons for anti-siphon protections for potable water supplies, but I'm inclined to agree with the video poster that most of the point of use devices are rather horrible.. ether from poor engineering or possibly (most likely) planned obsolescence. If you desire anti-siphon protection but do not desire leaking faucets try installing a simple spring check valve on the inlet side (piped side) of your standard or frost-free sillcock (faucet) assembly. Very effective with no dripping or spraying. And thank you to the TrailerDayz.. you added a new fitting to my mental inventory!

[IVespidI]

I got lucky. I decided to grind down the little screw with a round grinder so my drill could get a good footing, and about 5 seconds into grinding it, the screw came loose and sort of screwed itself out. I finished unscrewing it with my fingers it was so loose. I removed the vacuum break completely and now, for the first time since I bought the house (built brand new) there are 0 leaks from my faucet. Thanks for the tip.

[joshhensley]

Good vid. Some people might need to make sure they aren't violating code by removing it.

[alliszuba]

Thank you for talking about the ridiculousness of the backflow valve and for looking at different set-ups we may have at our own houses.

[MrIneffable]

There are reasons why backflows are required. People have pumped chemicals into the municipal water systems before. In many cities, commercial backflow preventers are required to be registered, tested/certified yearly. Residential settings are lower risk but it doesn't mean it won't happen. All it takes is someone using something like a faulty pressure washer with chemicals to pump poison into other peoples water supply.

[maddhombre]

I essentially achieved the same thing. I took it apart, removed the rubber bladder then filled the tiny holes liberally with JB Weld. Works like a champ!

[michaelnystrom]

Thanks for the video. I googled to see what contractors had to say about this anti siphon valve. One guy put it best when the owner asked him why he needed this $300 installation. He told them "if a crack house down the street blows up and catches the two houses next to them on if they send out 5 fire trucks to put the fire out your water will lose pressure and run if I don't install it I will lose my license." Ok, and if the water line feeding your neighborhood breaks. But who has a hose turned on and sitting in hazardous waste water? My faucets are always off. When I connect the hose to it I have a nozzle that is shut off. I turn on the faucet and squeeze the handle on the nozzle and water shoots out. No way I am going to contaminate the public water supply. Stupid! My house is two years old and one of the anti siphons is not working properly. These babies are toast as soon as my Spigotmaster shows up.

[philg]

Why is a spigot master required? Why can't you attach the garden hose directly to the spigot? Ty

[richards.]

Thanks for the DIY. I was looking at replacing the two I have because of the leaking they do but heard they very short lifespans. Your video was exactly what I needed. Thanks a bunch!!!👍👍👍

[daedalos]

Dude you are a life saver.. well, at least a headache saver anyway.. if municipalities wanted these devices to be more well accepted by the public, they should have made them easier to be replaced. Threw mine straight into the trash.. good riddance.

[denniswarren]

Hate those things. Turn them off and water sprays everywhere. And, you are right. Under what circumstances will your hose be connected to a contaminated source and under pressure enough to be go back into the system?

[pakr]

Thank you! No visible set screw, but it was SET. A large channel lock and BRUTE FORCE unscrewed the SOB while grinding the brass as I unscrewed it. Was able to attach the hose to the slightly ground off threads. NO MORE LEAKS!!!

[rc]

My subdivision has them but the old neighborhood next to ours doesn’t. Neither does any of my families in older neighborhoods. You clarified what I already believed, these are stupid and pointless! I only hook up water hoses to water my grass. And I have an outside water softener system in between the city’s main and my house lines. So I’m just removing mine permanently. Why even bother with a spigot master? Hook up the hose straight to the spigot like when we were kids.

[donatom]

Great information. I thought I was the only one who was having trouble with these back-flow preventers. Thanks!

[CodeDoctorJet]

I've replaced four backflow valves in four years. Finally bought two of these today. No more leaks. HOORAY!