external hose bib - problem

[lexrex]

I think I have some sort of problem with my external bibs. They are single frost proof faucets equipped with what I believe to be atmospheric vacuum breakers. The vacuum breaker is located right above the water outlet and at a roughly 90* angle to the ball valve. I can't really picture what is going on inside there.

Any maybe it's not really an atmospheric vacuum breaker? Please enlighten me.

The problem is I will turn the valve off after use and when I turn it back on I typically have to wait for several seconds to a minute or so for the flow to start up. It has been working this way for a few months. Now I get no flow at all, the valve is opened but the vacuum break, if that is what it really is, is still closed and I get nothing.

Why would this happen? Not enough water pressure to blow the vacuum breaker open? Something else that is not obvious to me?

I will take some pics in a few minutes and post them.

[lexrex]

The more I think, I don't think this has anything to do with vacuum break. It's really just odd. I'm going to have the builder come out and take it apart for a look.

[rrich]

The vacuum breaker is intended to prevent back flow. If there is a sudden surge in the water supply while you are spraying garden chemicals, the chemicals can back up into the water supply.

With city water, especially a large city, this is improbable but still possible. With a well water system this is likely. To get around the possibility of contamination the water supply, the vacuum breakers are required by code.

Your description of the problem doesn't make sense as the worst that a vacuum breaker will do is to spurt a little water out of the top of the device. I don't see how a vacuum breaker would shut off the flow.

BTW - If you have hand held shower head, there is a vacuum breaker at the end of the hose closest to the wall.

[lexrex]

Can't be that then Rich. I didn't really know how they worked other than their purpose. There has to be another problem.

[fredbelknap]

The rod that controls the valve which is located underground may have came loose on one or the other end. I never had one to go bad so I don't know if it is repairable. Should be. I would start at the top first, might not have to dig it out.

[woodmannie]

Lex,
Did ya notice a drop in preasre over time?
Chances are it's a frost free unit. These have the valve "guts" back in the piping. Around here, most FF valves are 12" meaning they go into the wall 12" to where the seals are. Could be that the valving is gummed up or disconected from the valve rod. Some are fixable, some are toss aways. Lowe's, HD, etc. all carry them. Around a $25 fix if ya do it yer self.

Tom

[TDHofstetter]

That cap is a vacuum break; it's intended to allow the water to flow out the far end of the hose after you've shut off the bibb - helps protect your hose (hosepipe for the English) from freezing.

If the handwheel is parallel to the wall, and you have a vacuum break, chances are very very good it's a frostproof bibb as Tom sez, with the valve guts waaay back inside the wall. Something seems all wrong, though, if you have to wait any more than about half a second for the water to hit the ground after you turn the dang thing on... linkage come loose, maybe? When they get it apart (or just swap it out), it'll all come clear. Could be crud built up the other side of the valve, but that wouldn't explain the big delay before.

[lexrex]

I'm going to have the builder solve the problem. We have a year from closing to have them look at just about anything. I'll report back. I'm guessing it's a bad install or a bad part.