I hate to both a plumber when so many folks need them to fix pipes actually impacting their lives in there house. I'm terrible at plumbing. How do I fix this? (You'll not the large hole behind the valve) I can't even figure out how I can start to unscrew the pipes as they all seemed linked together. Do I have to cut the PVC? Specific instructions here would be much appreciated if anyone is an expert!

Thanks!

Yep, cut the pvc a few inches down. Replace the valve and install a coupling in the pvc at the cut.

First thing to do is to find the valve upstream of the riser and cut the water supply off. Then you will have to cut pvc, install new valve, then install new pvc pipe and coupling to bridge the gap.

How do I know which way water flows through those pipes? Is it clockwise or counter clockwise?

arrow on the valve

flows to the left in pic

Clockwise in the US. Counter clockwise in Australia.

Have a spare sphincter valve handy in case all hell breaks loose!

So I'm going to have to shut off my main to fix that valve correct? There is no other valve between it and the main that I am aware of. Glad someone mentioned that, or I would have cut that sucker to take the valve into home depot to find a replacement. Then I would have got there and they'd be sold out of valves and I'd have no water for a month.

PVC work looks easy , but when I finish it always looks like poo.

Heres what a plumber would do. Cut both pvc pipes 6 to 8" above ground. Get the new backflow preventer assembly, male adapters, 90s and glue the whole thing up on the ground with 2 pieces of pipe sticking down, use sch. 40. At the end just stab both pipes down on the 2 coupling you have installed on the 2 risers. If you have an underground shut off somewhere, use sch 80 glue unions instead of couplings and you can crack the union nuts to drain it down every year. Use blue glue not clear glue.

Don't know if it's true but I have heard stories that in cities where Code is to have them above ground when people DIY a repair they put new valves in a below ground box and freezing won't be an issue in the future?

'Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more' (in my best Eric Idle impersonation).

I thought if you only closed off water from the city, the check valve would not burst, but closing both valves causes issues

These are the bomb. PVC fittings are in real short supply right now



https://www.dripworks.com/expansion...37F5ykbCz0lbvxr6U0FevbkR5roaAl7GEALw_wcB

Yes they are, but wont be needed on this repair.