Should sprinkler valves be open or closed?

Make sure the sprinkler valve is closed, unless it's the valve farthest from the main water source. You'll want to leave this valve open and remove the sprinkler nozzle to allow air to escape when you turn on the water.

What position should sprinkler valves be in?

There should be two, usually blue handled, ball valves (one on the side closest to the house and one on the side going to the irrigation system). Both should start in the closed position (perpendicular to the pipe).

Should sprinkler valves be open or closed for winter?

Manual valves should be left in the open position throughout winter to prevent repressurization. Some sprinkler heads have both side and bottom pipe inlets. If you use the side inlet, install a drain valve on the bottom inlet to prevent the case from freezing.

Why does my sprinkler valve stay open?

The valves may have air trapped in them. A small bubble of air becomes trapped in the tiny water ports of the valve, this stops the water from flowing through the port. Since the water flowing through the port is what holds the valve diaphragm closed, the valve stays open.

How do I know if my sprinkler valves are open?

Turning it to the left lifts an internal gate that releases water incrementally as it turns. The gate lifts entirely when the handle is turned fully counterclockwise. If the handle will turn no farther counterclockwise, the valve is open.

Troubleshooting irrigation sprinkler valves

What are the knobs for on sprinkler valves?

The flow control knob works very similar to a hose bib or gate valve as its main function is to either fully allow or restrict the amount of water passing through the valve.

How do I increase water flow in my sprinkler system?

By simply examining the sprinkler heads, you might notice that the adjustment of sprinkler heads is not proper. If so, you can simply turn the sprinkler head anti-clockwise for increasing the flow of water from the sprinkler head.

What happens if you don't winterize sprinklers?

If you forget to winterize your sprinklers, you run the risk that water will freeze in the irrigation valves, pipes and sprinkler heads. When water freezes, it expands causing the parts of your system to burst and destroying your sprinkler system.

How do you winterize sprinkler valves?

Shut off the water supply to the irrigation system. The main shut off valve for your irrigation system needs to be protected against freezing. Make sure it is wrapped with insulation (foam insulation tape and a plastic bag) to protect it from harsh winter temperatures and prevent it from freezing.

How do I clear my sprinklers for the winter?

Why do all my sprinkler zones come on at once?

Water is coming out of multiple zones at the same time: For the valves to stay open in one zone, while shutting outlets in other zones, there needs to be a minimum amount of water pushed through the valve.

Why is my sprinkler system stuck on one zone?

If your sprinkler system isn't working in all zones, chances are the problem is localized to the one or two zones that aren't working. Each zone has its own valve, so that's a good place to look. Head out to each valve and see if it is opened fully, broken, rusted, or stuck. Turn valves to the left to open them more.

Why are my sprinklers not getting enough pressure?

If the pressure is low at only one or two sprinkler heads, they may simply be dirty. Examine the sprinkler head and filter and clean if needed. Grass can also grow around the base of the sprinkler heads and cause them not to pop up fully, so trim and clear away any obstructions.

Why don't my sprinklers pop up?

If you're noticing that your sprinkler heads aren't popping up and engaging, it's, again, a water pressure issue. Most heads require a specific minimum amount of PSI of water pressure to engage. If you have a completely busted sprinkler head and don't notice it, then your system will suffer for who knows how long.

Why is my outside water pressure so low?

Low pressure at your garden hose spigot can be caused by one or a combination of issues, such as clogged or leaking pipes, excessive corrosion in the spigot valve or a lack of water pressure coming from the street.

Why does my sprinkler leak water when the system is turned off?

Control Valves

A leaky valve typically arises due to a blockage in the mechanism that runs the valve. A blockage could also be an indication that the valve is worn out and requires replacement. You can spot leaky valves easily because water will continue flowing out of the sprinkler long after you've shut it off.

What are the three types of main sprinkler valves?

There are three basic types of valves used in irrigation systems – gate valves, ball valves, and electric valves.