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There are many other factors that determine if a RPZ is failing. You cannot just rely on the relief valve dripping or dumping to determine if an assembly is failing. If what you mentioned was true there would be no need to ever test a RPZ assembly. You would just wait until it drips then repair it. Remember the ultimate goal for backflow is for protection of the drinking water supply. Not just ease of winterizing or cost. Think about it.

"failing" can be taken several ways ~ if device testing isn't performed on a regular basis, the effectiveness of the check valves can only be guessed at. For a PVB, that doesn't trouble me very much, since the spring-loaded vacuum breaker has not yet shown any tendency to stick.

I suspect the process of gaining agency approvals is ample demonstration of the relief valve performance of an RPZ. Our testing is all about check valves. For a DCVA, I consider it essential, since the device is sealed, and contains nothing else but check valves. The air openings on PVBs and RPZs make the check valves in those devices less critical to the task of protection.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by tehachapibackflow</i>
<br />You will begin to notice on the watts 009 series the internal parts are all plastic. Those check modules will begin to crack with high pressure or freezing temps. Bets of luck with the "failing febcos"
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just remember all backflow devices are rated at temp rating of up to 120 degrees anything hotter will require a watts 909 MOD model which is rated for really hot water.