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

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.

Everything related to homes is WAY up in price right now, and plumbing is no different. Still, with shipping and Amazon points, this was the best deal I saw. The product itself is fine...an exact duplicate of the 16yo assembly that ruptured last winter. Probably three times now what it cost then. I cut the tubes mid-way at each side, removed the elbow fittings, put them on the new assembly, and used Sharkbite connectors as you can see. The most difficult part was getting the elbows off and back on again in the correct alignment. A new heat cord before winter and, hopefully, I don't have to mess with this again for awhile.

It met expectations

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.

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.

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.

Another example of the adage " You get what you pay for" . This is a high quality RPP type backflow prevention device. It passed inspection, testing and certification for our water district, which will require test certification annually from now on. I'm going to wrap it and cover it with a fake rock to protect from the elements, but probably unnecessary in our mild climate. It is turn-key with all of the test ports and valves on each end, only requires riser and connection. Highly recommended, another problem solved.