Performing a sprinkler valve replacement is generally not too difficult. A bit of mechanical and plumbing knowledge will usually see you through the task. It’s diagnosing the problem that is sometimes very difficult. A leaky valve can produce myriad symptoms. Fortunately, all of them will obviously have to do with the flow of water, and that can help you to narrow down whether it’s the valve at issue or some other component of your irrigation system. This starts by checking the flow to the sprinkler heads.
If there is no flow to the heads, check to see if the control device is working correctly. Many of these devices have a clock display on them with a battery backup. This helps them keep on schedule in the event of a power outage. If the clock is set to the wrong time, it may be that there is a problem with the control unit. The battery being dead is a sign that it’s been depowered enough to drain it. If the control unit seems to be fine, however, it may be time for a sprinkler valve replacement. Or, it could be the wiring.
You’ll have to do some digging to perform a sprinkler valve replacement, so you may as well do it right away. Make sure you shut the valves on your backflow preventer before you do this, if necessary. If you don’t have a diagram that tells you which sprinklers are attached to each valve, you can find out by turning them all on in succession until you reach the broken valve. Dig a good sized hole around this valve; big enough to accommodate your arms. If there is a puddle of water around the valve, you may have found the problem already. The valve may simply be broken.
A sprinkler valve replacement, however, isn’t always necessary in these cases. The water may be gathering because the sprinkler valve is obstructed or because the rubber seal on the valve is cracked. You can take these valves apart very easily and inspect them for debris. You can flush out that debris by feeding water to that valve zone and letting it pass through. You may also need a new solenoid, which is equally easy to check. If it doesn’t spring in and out easily, it likely needs to be replaced.
Remember that a sprinkler valve replacement may involve cutting and reattaching some pipes. If you’re not comfortable doing this, find a handy friend or a pro to show you how it’s done. Once you learn how to do it, you can take over the work yourself and never pay for it again. The valves are not particularly expensive but, generally, it’s better to pay a few dollars more to get a high-end model than to save and go cheap. That way, you end up doing a lot less digging up patches on your lawn and spend much more time enjoying how green it is!
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