Zurn Wilkins 12-975XL2 1/2" 975XL2 Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Preventer

Theses Backflows are very good…….

Well-built high quality construction. Solid bronze with stainless steel 1/4 turn ball valve. Parts are available should you ever need them. If my jack-leg irrigation guy had not used iron nipples to connect to bronze - they electrochemically fused after 15 years - I'd still be using the original unit.

Have use this type of backflow preventer for a number of years. Always tests out great. I use it for irrigation water from a fire hydrant. Left it in the garden shed one winter. That was a mistake. The residual water in the valve froze. Rebuilding it would cost more than buying a new one. Don't let it freeze and this valve should provide years of service.

Back flow inspector broke the valve on the old one and said I had to get a plumber to change it. Double the price at the supply store. Ordered this one and I changed it out within 30 min. Saved 500 bucks so I'm happy. Test came back good after replacing the old one.

The backflow is the exact replacement and worked well. However, they packaged it poorly and one of the bleeder valves broke off. I had to use an easy out to get out of piece broken off and use one of the old bleeders with the new valve. I would've had it sent it back to get a new one, but I couldn't wait any longer to get this replaced as it was leaking. It should have been wrapped in bubble wrap.

I replaced a really crap backflow on my irrigation that didn't meet local code (PVB, has to be 18" above highest outlet and it was actually lower). I have to get it inspected annually and I was worried the guys would screw it up since everyone around me has the crappy PVB instead of RP, but the guy actually really liked that my test ports were quality and functional and asked for this listing to start buying them for new installs as an upsell.

I was able to replace my cracked one with this is about an hour and that included having to shut off the water and drain the line, find my Teflon tape and monkey wrench and such. Pretty easy.

Much cheaper than my local hardware stores or my sprinkler co. prices it. Very heavy, solid brass. The flow faucets; however, are steel, and will rust.Beware: I had another that came with the house. Worked just fine. In Nov, at sprinkler system deactivation for the winter, my sprinkler tech told me "you can leave it on all winter; it's solid brass." Of course, we shut off the water inside the house and at these two flow faucets. Well . . . yes, you know the rest. A period of 20o F weather was enough to freeze some trapped water inside, cracking the brass. Not the fault of this device, but an expensive lesson for me.