Question
Hi Jim -

When I turned on my sprinkler system this spring, I couldn't get any of the zones to come on. Rather, water just gushes out from under the top housing cover of the backflow preventer. I have good pressure coming from the house but can't seem to get the water to flow past the backflow and into the mainline. Hope I've described my problem with enough clarity for you to respond. Thanks in advance.

Chad

Answer
Hey Chad, more than likely, the backflow preventer froze in the winter, and the main poppet and seat has cracked. You need to investigate by taking the unit apart and seeing if these pieces are cracked. If you could tell me what brand backflow preventer you have, I could help you further. Most backflow manufactures sell a rebuild kit, so if you know what brand and size you have, you can go to an irrigation supply store, and buy a kit to fix your problem. Let me know if I can help you anymore, thanks and have a great day.