How can I find my sprinkler lines without digging?

If you prefer to locate the lines and heads of your system without digging, rent a valve locator or even a metal detector and mark areas once found – better yet, call call 811, a federally mandated service, and ask someone to come out and locate the system for you.

What should I do if my sprinkler system keeps running?

Check the controller’s programming to make sure it hasn’t changed or returned to a default setting that increases water usage. In some cases, irrigation controllers may keep sprinkler systems running unnecessarily for hours, which can significantly increase your water bill. Check the programs for all zones.

Why does my sprinkler system keep skipping zones?

If the pump is located more than a few feet from the water source, the inside valve disc pops up and down, skipping zones as the supply line fills with purging air. To fix this problem, move the indexing valve closer to the water source, so that the electric control valve or pump is closer to the indexing valve to pressurize the supply line.

How to spot a leak in a sprinkler system?

The “spotter” should look for these signs of leaks: 1 Flooding around the sprinkler’s base may indicate malfunctioning valves that are not shutting off properly. 2 Water sprays/geysers usually indicate missing spray heads. 3 Water spraying between sprinkler heads could mean you have a cracked lateral line.

How do you turn off a sprinkler valve?

Turn the top of the valve clockwise slowly until you feel resistance to manually turn off the valve. Turn on the next sprinkler valve in either the same box or a different box in the same manner to flush one zone at a time. Valve boxes can house several valves or single valves, depending on the installation method.

Check the controller’s programming to make sure it hasn’t changed or returned to a default setting that increases water usage. In some cases, irrigation controllers may keep sprinkler systems running unnecessarily for hours, which can significantly increase your water bill. Check the programs for all zones.

What makes a sprinkler controller not leak water?

Controllers, themselves, don’t leak water. What they are is an electrical clock that tells the sprinkler valves when to release water through the sprinklers and for how long. What you’re checking for, when you look at the controller, is to make sure that the programming is reasonable.

If the pump is located more than a few feet from the water source, the inside valve disc pops up and down, skipping zones as the supply line fills with purging air. To fix this problem, move the indexing valve closer to the water source, so that the electric control valve or pump is closer to the indexing valve to pressurize the supply line.

How can I find the irrigation valve on my sprinkler system?

The sprinkler head that is closest to the valve should pressurize slightly before the rest of the sprinklers. Start at that sprinkler and try to find the valve nearby. The cheapest and easiest way to find buried irrigation valves is often to probe the soil with a thin rod, such as a long screwdriver.