Backflow preventers on home irrigation systems

It’s really hard to get them off once they’re secured.

I had a full master bedroom and master bathroom addition / remodel to our old house several years back with new pool built. My pool builder told me to put them on (because he said they’re somehow dicks about this).

The inspector came and spent all of two minutes. The only damn thing he cared about was seeing the damn back flow preventers and then he left. I didn’t even lock them in place. I took them off when he left.

What a joke



Edit: I live in New Orleans metro area. My current home was built in 1999. There are no back flow preventers anywhere. No one is coming or checking. It’s a non issue. I’m sure an inspector would care if someone applied for permits for something.

Those things are problematic. They leak. They spray. They screw with water pressure over time. I can’t imagine living somewhere where you’re threatened to have your water cutoff and need to have yearly inspections.

Neither old house or “new” house pool tied into water line.

Backflows are supposed to be inspected yearly according to state law. A backflow prevention specialist is certified to do this. Most people only do it if their water company enforces it. Just like everything else, the state of Louisiana is only concerned about collecting fees. They don’t enforce the law

Backflow preventers outside of a building sprinkler system are a ripoff.

The idea is they prevent contaminants from flowing from your sprinkler heads or just water in the lines of the system back into the main which could in theory happen if the main depressures. On a pool if a pump could be lined up to put pressure (shouldn't be built that way these days but I've seen it on some older designs) on your water supply it could actually be needed.