some strange (to me) plumbing part has a leak

Hi folks,

My daughter (in Laguna Niguel in southern California, in case that helps identify the device) has a leak in her outside plumbing. Attached is a wide-shot and a closer picture of the problem area. I couldn't attach a video because it was too large.

So, from top to bottom, there is a spigot with its shutoff valve, some device whose function I don't know, and a shutoff valve. I believe the water source is the top pipe since my daughter said the bottom shutoff valve was closed tight. Where does the bottom pipe lead to?

The leak is where the cap covers an outlet of the unknown device - right by the black parts (due to chipped paint, I think) of the pipe. I'm trying to find out whether the black part is porous.

Can anybody help with what this center device might be? Whatever it is, my daughter said she had tried to tighten the screw on the cap, but that didn't help. Assuming nothing is corroded, maybe a gasket or a seal needs to be replaced?

Thanks,

Jae

If you could see the other side of that wall, I think it would be a big help in guessing what that antique looking device is.
There must be an accessible isolation valve somewhere on the source of that water.
I'm guessing so. California doesn't have basements???

There's a chance that the valve isn't tightly closed but rather stuck fully open. Although a rising stem gate valve, which likely it is, would have more stem exposed if it was fully open. Which doesn't help answer the question, I know.

One thought was some real old pressure reducing valve but I wouldn't bet on it without seeing the other side of that wall.

Hopefully someone recognizes it.

The bottom valve might be a source of hot water, to mix with the cold on top for car washing, etc?

Maybe the gizmo in the middle is some kind of timer with a twist knob on the end?
Or a backflow preventer?
PRV?
Mixing valve?

Perhaps a better look at the numbers/letters on the front of the gadget can provide something to google

Thanks for replying, folks. My daughter took the video to Home Depot and was told that it was a pressure regulator. So she will be getting it replaced.

And as Diehard noted, it makes sense that the source is from the bottom (she's on a 2nd floor condo), and the regulated pressure goes to the spigot and then to the interior of the condo.

As to the numbers, she said it was hard to read because it had been painted over.

Her condo HOA is probably responsible for maintaining that part of the building plumbing.

Since the trouble is occurring on a section of water supply before it even enters her unit.

Somethings not kosher here.
If that valve is closed tight she wouldn't be getting water. So must be open.

Why would she be responsible to fix it if it's supplying an outside hose bib?

Does she pay for her water?

Yes, HOA should pay, or landlord if she is renting from an owner.

Lower valve might be functioning as a zone valve, acting as the main shutoff to water for just her unit. So it has to be open.

OK, a clarification. She said she closed everything tight, but apparently not tight enough. And when that didn't fix the leak she opened it back up again.

Thanks for the note about the HOA. I'll tell her that.

OK, a clarification. She said she closed everything tight, but apparently not tight enough. And when that didn't fix the leak she opened it back up again. She found out she didn't tighten it enough when a friend was able to tighten it more.

Thanks for the note about the HOA. I'll tell her that.

(I don't know why it posted twice - sorry about that.)

Pressure reducing valve!!! It can be replaced with a newer model. Add the right kind for your application.

Thanks for your help, folks. My daughter had the pressure regulator replaced and all is well now.

Thanks, Jeff Handy, for the comment about the HOA being responsible. She contacted them earlier this week and they said they'd reimburse her.

And a good thing is that now she knows where the water shutoff is for her condo. Apparently she had a plumbing problem before, and the guy who fixed it turned off her supply using trial and error from someplace in the parking lot (by talking to her via phone to tell him when her pressure had dropped

She told me this when I said there should be a shutoff for her condo without having to go out to the parking lot.