THE COLD FACT iswater expands by roughly 9 percent when it freezes and taking care of your backflow gauge in the winter months is essential. To avoid severe damage to your backflow gauge during cold temperatures, be careful not to expose your gauge to freezing temperatures for any amount of time that allows residual water inside the gauge to freeze. Depending on the extreme temperature, water freezing inside your gauge may only take a few minutes. Once the water turns to ice and expands inside the gauge, the expanding ice will damage the fragile internal components or crack the body and manifold. Following the proper care and precautions below will save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary repairs when your backflow test kit freezes.

PREPARATION STEPS TO DRAIN WATER FROM BACKFLOW GAUGE USING GRAVITY METHOD

·Remove hoses from backflow gauge

·Elevate hoses to drain water from hoses

·Elevate gauge and fully opening all knobs/valves on backflow gauge

·Shake gauge in vertical position to allow all water to drain from gauge

·Leave all knobs/valves in open position during shipping / storage

·When shipping in for recalibration leave all valves open and include gauge hoses.

·Properly package the backflow gauge to ensure it’s protected from shipping damage.

PREPARATION STEPS TO DRAIN WATER FROM BACKFLOW GAUGE USING COMPRESSED AIR METHOD

(MAX PRESSURE NOT TO EXCED 120 PSI)

·Remove hoses from backflow gauge

·Blow air into hoses to remove water

·Fully opening all knobs/valves on backflow gauge.

·Blow air into high side hose connection to remove water

·Blow air into low side hose connection to remove water

·Leave all knobs/valves in open position during shipping / storage

·When shipping in for recalibration leave all valves open and include gauge hoses.

·Properly package the backflow gauge to ensure it’s protected from shipping damage.