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Sprinkler System Problem BobR 05-06-2008
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Posted by pipedown on May 7, 2008, 3:13 pm
"I would gladly follow the wire...if I could. The best that I can
determine, somebody was drunk as a skunk when they laid out this
system. The systems overlap and the control valves are as far from
their systems as possible. It is the craziest thing I have seen."


Sounds like under a New York City Street.

Personally I prefer a system where all the control valves are in one or two
locations near the main water source then run underground heads as needed
with no valves. i.e Point of Source switching. Point of Use switching whre
the valve is near the zone to be served has the problem that it is hard to
clear the line ahead of the valves for winter or if there is a leak.

For leaks, just cap off all the heads and turn on the water, the leak should
surface under pressure if you are lucky.



Posted by on May 7, 2008, 5:27 pm
> "I would gladly follow the wire...if I could. =A0The best that I can
> determine, somebody was drunk as a skunk when they laid out this
> system. =A0The systems overlap and the control valves are as far from
> their systems as possible. =A0It is the craziest thing I have seen."
>
> Sounds like under a New York City Street.
>
> Personally I prefer a system where all the control valves are in one or tw=
o
> locations near the main water source then run underground heads as needed
> with no valves. =A0i.e Point of Source switching. =A0Point of Use switchin=
g whre
> the valve is near the zone to be served has the problem that it is hard to=

> clear the line ahead of the valves for winter or if there is a leak.

Why would it be any harder to clear the pipe? With an air
compressor, you just cycle through all the zones, twice to be sure,
and the job is done, regardless of where the valves are located.

>
> For leaks, just cap off all the heads and turn on the water, the leak shou=
ld
> surface under pressure if you are lucky.


Posted by BobR on May 7, 2008, 6:09 pm
> "I would gladly follow the wire...if I could. =A0The best that I can
> determine, somebody was drunk as a skunk when they laid out this
> system. =A0The systems overlap and the control valves are as far from
> their systems as possible. =A0It is the craziest thing I have seen."
>
> Sounds like under a New York City Street.
>
> Personally I prefer a system where all the control valves are in one or tw=
o
> locations near the main water source then run underground heads as needed
> with no valves. =A0i.e Point of Source switching. =A0Point of Use switchin=
g whre
> the valve is near the zone to be served has the problem that it is hard to=

> clear the line ahead of the valves for winter or if there is a leak.
>
> For leaks, just cap off all the heads and turn on the water, the leak shou=
ld
> surface under pressure if you are lucky.

I designed and installed the system at my prior residence. Did just
what you suggested and had all of the control valves in one spot
directly where the water connection was. Only had to run about 15 of
wire from the timer. All systems ran out from that central point
which was in the middle of the overall system. Never had a problem
with any of the system in almost 20 years of use which is more than I
can say for most of the professional installed systems. But what the
heck do I know, I was just another dumb homeowner.


Posted by ransley on May 6, 2008, 10:45 pm
> Moved into an older home a couple years ago with an existing sprinkler
> system. =A0It has never worked correctly and I am trying to get the
> system back into shape. =A0Just replaced the backflow valves and got the
> system to partially work but can not leave the water and the timer
> on. =A0It appears that one of the valves is stuck open or partially open
> which allows one of the stations to run even when the station is off.
> I know that I need to replace the station valve but I can't find the
> damn thing.
>
> The system has five stations and I have only been able to locate the
> controls for three of the stations. =A0All five have been buried and
> there is no plot of where to locate them. =A0The three that I have
> located were in different areas and not near the areas being
> serviced. =A0I can only guess as to where the remaining two are. =A0I am
> on a large cul-d-sac lot with the sprinkler covering the entire lot.
>
> Does anyone have a suggestion on how I can find the remaining two
> valves without destroying the entire yard in the process? =A0I found the
> third valve when digging up and replacing one of the flower beds. =A0Oh
> yes, the damn power cord for the system is also buried under the
> patio.
>
> PS: =A0Had the same problems with the sewer clean out and the main water
> line coming into the house. =A0Paid a very high price for the plumber to
> find those under emergency conditions.

Call local sprinkler companies to see if any installed it and have a
blueprint, mine did, the locator idea is good and metal detectors can
work if the layout was easy, but often they are not.

Posted by BobR on May 6, 2008, 11:28 pm
>
>
>
>
>
> > Moved into an older home a couple years ago with an existing sprinkler
> > system. =A0It has never worked correctly and I am trying to get the
> > system back into shape. =A0Just replaced the backflow valves and got the=

> > system to partially work but can not leave the water and the timer
> > on. =A0It appears that one of the valves is stuck open or partially open=

> > which allows one of the stations to run even when the station is off.
> > I know that I need to replace the station valve but I can't find the
> > damn thing.
>
> > The system has five stations and I have only been able to locate the
> > controls for three of the stations. =A0All five have been buried and
> > there is no plot of where to locate them. =A0The three that I have
> > located were in different areas and not near the areas being
> > serviced. =A0I can only guess as to where the remaining two are. =A0I am=

> > on a large cul-d-sac lot with the sprinkler covering the entire lot.
>
> > Does anyone have a suggestion on how I can find the remaining two
> > valves without destroying the entire yard in the process? =A0I found the=

> > third valve when digging up and replacing one of the flower beds. =A0Oh
> > yes, the damn power cord for the system is also buried under the
> > patio.
>
> > PS: =A0Had the same problems with the sewer clean out and the main water=

> > line coming into the house. =A0Paid a very high price for the plumber to=

> > find those under emergency conditions.
>
> Call local sprinkler companies to see if any installed it and have a
> blueprint, mine did, the locator idea is good and metal detectors can
> work if the layout was easy, but often they are not.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks but I live in DFW area and that could take forever with all the
sprinkler companies around here. Besides, from the looks of this
system, it was probably put in 20 years ago and not sure any company
would accept responsibility for the mess. Some of the sprinkler heads
haven't been produced in at least that long.


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