Sprinkler Repairs that work

What are Valves and What Does one Do

The shut off Valve is just that.

If you need to shut the water off for the sprinkler system there should be a valve under a hose bib ( where your hose can be connected). If you don't have one then you would have to shut off your main water valve for the house, which is a pain to not have water all day while you work on the system. So if you want to put one in, you would turn the water off at the Main Water Valve for the house. Then cut the pipe going to the sprinkler systems anti siphon Valve or Manifold( More than one A.S. Valve in a row), put in a Shut off BALL VALVE. This is a valve that accepts a pipe at both ends with a handle on the side when flipped one way or the other will open and close. You will need a screw on threaded one if you still have Galvanized pipe, glue on if it is PVC plastic, and or solder on type if you have copper pipe. Learn how to do that!

There are many great Landscape and Gardening Magazines out there that can give future details about different types of Sprinkler timers and valves for all sorts of planting areas. Drip irrigation systems are wonderful and easy to install from potted plants and even garden beds. They use a lot less water and you get a lot less weeds. That is a great thing!

Fix it Kit if Valve Leaks

At the warehouse parts store they will have a rebuild kit, which is just some rubber "O" rings (washers to stop water from leaking around things that turn) and a rubber diaphragm with a little white pointy thing sticking through it. So when you get home from the store there is a big plastic nut on top of the Anti Siphon valve and inside is where this stuff goes. Just follow the simple instructions and quickly you will have rebuilt your first valve.

You can stand out there in the hot sun and water your lawn with a hose.

Or water only the areas you want to, and water the rest with your sprinkler system! It doesn't work you say?

There are many different types of sprinkler systems for all kinds of sprinkling needs. Regular planters, vegetable garden big barrels, raised bed and it goes on and on...Sometimes these systems , if not maintained will shut down to tell you that they need attention. So here are some places to start... First you need to make a plan Again of your yard and where the sprinkler heads, shut off valves, main shut off and pipe layout if you know where it is. Only the approximate Locations to give you an idea when repair is necessary.

Hey maybe you can use the one from the Home Repair checklist. You drew a footprint on the back, remember? If you have a scanner, scan it in and print it out or take it out of your Home repair file I suggested that you make. See there is a method to my madness.

What the heck is an Anti Siphon Valve

Then there are those green Anti Siphon Valves is the Main Valve between the sprinkler water shut off and the sprinklers that shuts the sprinklers on and off. It also is connected to a water source under pressure. If that water source supplies the fresh water for your house, you want to be sure you have an anti siphon device or valve between the fresh water and the start of the sprinkler system. You do this so that the chemicals or anything else from your lawn don't mix with what you drink in the house by basically touching that same water. It keeps an air bubble so to speak between the two!

Does an Anti Siphon Valve stop working

Yes they do and if you know you have water coming to the valve but the sprinklers aren't working try this... There is a little black plastic screw or lever on the top or side of each valve ( Not the big one in the middle, that shuts it off. So make sure that is all the way open). Turn the little one down on the next level counter clock wise a little until some water starts spraying out of it. If it is working , the sprinklers will start spraying. If it is the inside of that valve they will not go on.

So is it the Valve or the Electric

So now it is either the Valve or if you have a timer, check to see if it is plugged in to the electrical outlet, Also check to make sure it is turned on. Generally there is a diagram on the inside of the door of the box the sprinkler timer is housed in. If it is on and plugged in, try another plug in device ( like a blow dryer, small lamp or a drill) to see if the outlet is working.

Or you can still do this for awhile?

How do I fix the broken pipe
So you will need to dig a small hole in the dirt where there is a leak if you see one in the lawn. A large wet spot or spray when that system is on will show up. Be careful when you dig because it may only be a little ways in to the dirt and you don't want to chop the pipe in two. If you find the broken pipe then all you have to do is cut out the cracked or broken piece and replace it with the same type. It might just be a loose or broken riser that you can unscrew and replace with the same type. Take it with you to match it up at the warehouse store. Before screwing it back in, put 2 wraps of sealing tape on both ends to seal it. Then put the head on and adjust to hit the correct areas with water when it is on and create new problems with your home!

STOP; If your Outlet works and the lamp, drill is on or the light in the sprinkler timer box is lit, then you can skip the electric section!

Or Click Below to find out how to do a

simple electrical test

Check the 12 Volt Little wires at Valve

You will notice above that the Sprinkler Vales have two black wires coming out of them. These connect the transformer ( little box in the electric outlet by the timer) to the valves. The transformer drops the power from 140 volts AC current down to 12 volts on most timers and valves.

That smaller power works a water stopping valve inside the anti siphon valve up and down when the timer comes around to the right time that you set it for( instruction booklet or inside the door of the time box). Check the program to make sure the time is correct and coming on when you want it to operate.

Anything Loose or Broken

Then turn the sprinkler timer to manual to see if the sprinklers come on. If not check the little black wires at the round black sprinkler solenoid on top of the valve to see if there is any breaks there or where they connect to the wires coming from the timer. Look in the timer box to see if any of the brass screws are loose at the bottom or if any of the wires are loose, broken or off those screws. If they are unplug the transformer and reconnect the wires that are a problem area from above mentioned.

If it still doesn't operate

Unscrew the sprinkler solenoid at the valve (Above) and unhook the two black little wires where they hook to the other wire coming from the timer, take it with you to the warehouse parts store and match it up to a new one. They are not that expensive. Take it home and screw it in hook the two wires to the other two wires you took them off of ( doesn't matter which side they connect to). Now try the sprinkler and it should work just fine.

What Kind of Pipe do I have And How Does it all Connect

Check with your local Building inspections Department to see how deep your pipes may be buried and if a permit is required for any of the work you are doing. In colder areas they will need to be buried deeper than say California where you only need to bury the pipe 7 to 10 inches. The pipes can freeze if not protected in the colder states. Sprinkler systems are basic PVC pipe with sprinkler heads on risers ( Small pipes that come out of the ground) screwed or glued or clamped if Flexible pipe was originally used to build the system in the ground.

Always Have your yard located by a Locator before you Dig

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