Watts 25AUB-Z3 Pressure Reducing Valve, 3/4"

Good fit, easy to install.

Muy buena válvula, fácil de instalar, de material muy resistente, se ajusta fácilmente.Mantiene la presión a la salida constante, sin variaciones.Excelente válvula.

My house was built in 1966 and had a Watts 3/4" U5B series pressure reducing valve. According to the Watts website, the U5B is a higher performance/capacity model than this LF25AUB-Z3 3/4", and comparing the charts on the volume @pressure, there does appear to be a difference, but it looked small at the pressures that represent my operating environment. My old U5B was no longer regulating pressure, and so everything in my house was being subjected to 120psi that comes off my street. This is relatively close to the 150psi safety release on the hotwater tank and it was wreaking havoc with anything less than contractor grade garden hoses (blowing them apart after a few months in service). I became concerned that the high pressure might also destroy a toilet/sink supply line and in the worst case, flood the house while we were gone.I tried to get a repair kit for my U5B and by all accounts I ordered the right kit, but none of the parts fit. Maybe someone accidentally swapped the parts bags between two kits while comparing, or maybe the U5B I had was so old that the design had changed a bit. For whatever reason, the bell housing dimensions on my U5B did not match the dimensions specs noted by Watts. Even though "3/4" was clearly forged in the side of the valve and the sticker on it clearly read U5B. Anyway, I don't know if the old valve was Lead-Free or not. So I decided it was worth it to just order a new valve. The direct modern replacement for the U5B is going for around $300 +/-, depending on your source, and Amazon didn't have any sources.But the LF25AUB-Z3 3/4" was $80 shipped to my door. So I took a chance and ordered it. Installation was a breeze, turned off the main supply, opened a sink to bleed the pressure off the system, shut off the hot water heater, then just backed off the old unit and put the new one in. The new one is maybe 3/16" shorter in overall length, but there is plenty of slack/give in the copper pipes I have to allow for some differences in size.It's amazing the difference this has made for my appliances and what not. We used to get pretty bad water-hammer, installing arresters helped, but did not eliminate. With the new pressure reducing valve in place there is no more water hammer, my automatic icemaker is working clog-free, and the refrigerator door water dispenser works much better. I may miss the 120psi when it comes to working outside, but so far I love the new pressure and there is room to turn it up a bit. The valve comes factory preset to 50psi and can be adjusted up to 75psi. I don't recall the lower limit. Oh, and I took the old valve apart. To my surprise the diaphragm was perfectly intact. What had failed was the bypass valve. It appears to have rotted/worn away small enough to come apart and it got trapped by the screen. And another interesting fact was that I'm quite sure that screen had never been checked in the 49ish years it had been in service and it was perfectly clean, pretty cool.

The media could not be loaded. I recently purchased the Watts Water Pressure Reducing Valve as a replacement for my old valve, which was causing my water heater to leak. Since installing it in mid-March 2024, I have been thoroughly impressed with its performance and reliability.Installation ExperienceThe installation process was straightforward and hassle-free. The valve came with clear instructions, and I had it installed within an hour. Even for someone who isn’t a professional plumber, the process was manageable, and all the necessary components were included.PerformanceSince installing the Watts valve, I haven’t experienced any issues. The water pressure in my home has been consistently regulated, preventing any undue stress on my plumbing system. This has been especially important for protecting my new water heater, ensuring it operates efficiently without any risk of damage from high water pressure.It feels robust and well-made, indicating that it will last for many years.

Does what it's supposed to do