Yard irrigation

[Russell King]

I have an automatic irrigation system installed in my yard. Hunter brand. It has been turned off for quite some time 2-3 months. Not unplugged but selector in the system off position. And it has been incredibly dry for some time.

I was out cleaning up the yard of live oak leaves (that fall off this time of the year) and noticed a water puddle next to the house foundation. The house water line comes into the foundation in that corner so I ASSUMED that the water line was leaking. But today I started to dig out that area and moved a drip irrigation line out of the way. When doing that water was spraying out of the fittings on the drip irrigation line that were at the corner of the foundation. That line is connected to the automatic irrigation system described above so I was surprised that there was water pressure in a line that has not been on in some time.

I dug down to the connection to the PVC pipe of the irrigation system and disconnected the plastic from the PVC pipe (connector was a screw on style). As I unscrewed it there was pressure and water was spraying but then the pressure went down and I finished removing the plastic pipe. There may have been a a small drip out of the PVC pipe but then I opened the irrigation valve and turned it back off to flush out the pipe. Then there was no drip!

I assume that the valve was leaking and eventually building pressure in the pipe.

Does anyone know if the automatic valves are prone to leaking? I have seen that they leak but that seems to be external leakage, not through the cutoff point of the valve. I assumed they are ball valves but can’t verify what type of valve they are. can someone tell me what type of valve they are? Are they repairable or do they have to be replaced?

 

[jyoutz]

I have an automatic irrigation system installed in my yard. Hunter brand. It has been turned off for quite some time 2-3 months. Not unplugged but selector in the system off position. And it has been incredibly dry for some time.

I was out cleaning up the yard of live oak leaves (that fall off this time of the year) and noticed a water puddle next to the house foundation. The house water line comes into the foundation in that corner so I ASSUMED that the water line was leaking. But today I started to dig out that area and moved a drip irrigation line out of the way. When doing that water was spraying out of the fittings on the drip irrigation line that were at the corner of the foundation. That line is connected to the automatic irrigation system described above so I was surprised that there was water pressure in a line that has not been on in some time.

I dug down to the connection to the PVC pipe of the irrigation system and disconnected the plastic from the PVC pipe (connector was a screw on style). As I unscrewed it there was pressure and water was spraying but then the pressure went down and I finished removing the plastic pipe. There may have been a a small drip out of the PVC pipe but then I opened the irrigation valve and turned it back off to flush out the pipe. Then there was no drip!

I assume that the valve was leaking and eventually building pressure in the pipe.

Does anyone know if the automatic valves are prone to leaking? I have seen that they leak but that seems to be external leakage, not through the cutoff point of the valve. I assumed they are ball valves but can’t verify what type of valve they are. can someone tell me what type of valve they are? Are they repairable or do they have to be replaced?

I have had to replace leaking sprinkler valves in the past, so yes they can leak.

 

[Russell King]

I have had to replace leaking sprinkler valves in the past, so yes they can leak.

Thank you for the reply.

How did you know that your valve was leaking?

 

[jyoutz]

Thank you for the reply.

How did you know that your valve was leaking?

The drip system was on when the valve was shut off. Leakage didn’t have enough pressure to run the lawn sprinklers, but the drip lines were seeping.

 

[jaxs]

Thank you for the reply.

How did you know that your valve was leaking?

Spinner on water meter will noticeably move if there's more than a fast drip . Every year or two I mark meter then check for movement a few hours later to see if there's a slow drip.

 

[jyoutz]

Spinner on water meter will noticeably move if there's more than a fast drip . Every year or two I mark meter then check for movement a few hours later to see if there's a slow drip.

No meter on my well pressure tank.

 

[MOOTS]

Pressure will stay in the system when off, unless drained. The controller simply opens and closes a solenoid on the master valve, and for each zone if so equipped. Find the valves and see if they are weeping. Sometimes trash(rock or dirt) can get in and stick the diaphragm open a bit.

Best bet when shutting down system for the year is to close the ball valve before master valve, hopefully you have one. And drain the lines.

 

[jyoutz]

Pressure will stay in the system when off, unless drained. The controller simply opens and closes a solenoid on the master valve, and for each zone if so equipped. Find the valves and see if they are weeping. Sometimes trash(rock or dirt) can get in and stick the diaphragm open a bit.

Best bet when shutting down system for the year is to close the ball valve before master valve, hopefully you have one. And drain the lines.

My sprinkler system has self draining check valves to drain the lines whenever they aren’t under pressure.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Also, should have a filter between where the water comes from and the 'irrigation' valving station.
As well as an antibackflow unit.

 

[Russell King]

Pressure will stay in the system when off, unless drained. The controller simply opens and closes a solenoid on the master valve, and for each zone if so equipped. Find the valves and see if they are weeping. Sometimes trash(rock or dirt) can get in and stick the diaphragm open a bit.

Best bet when shutting down system for the year is to close the ball valve before master valve, hopefully you have one. And drain the lines.

Mine is self draining also but I had disconnected this zone from the sprinklers so can understand why it was under pressure.

I have the ball valve turned off now and will try to remember to use it every time I turn the system off for the winter - just to be sure that it is not leaking (I try to reduce the sewage charge by reducing water usage in winter).

I have to locate the zone valve now, I have forgotten where they put them all so will have to dig out the as built drawings. I thought it was in the valve box at the same corner as the leak, but that was just the wire junction “box” between the controller and the valves.

Thank you all for the comments and answers.

 

[jaxs]

No meter on my well pressure tank.

That's too bad since a meter makes it so easy to test. Oh well others have my permission to use the test and you are left sucking hind tit ,,,, again.

 

[jyoutz]

That's too bad since a meter makes it so easy to test. Oh well others have my permission to use the test and you are left sucking hind tit ,,,, again.

Nobody meters their own private well.