Your lawn’s drip irrigation utilizes several valves to control the water flow to various locations, like your fruit tree grove or vegetable garden. Typically concealed under the dirt or grass, these valves utilize basic mechanical and electric parts within their assemblies to provide water to one or more drip tubes in your garden. Over time, your drip system can reveal signs of disrepair, such as excess puddling or no water in any way. Fixing a drip system valve demands common hand tools to clean out the housing and evaluate its structural integrity.
Turn your irrigation system off at the control panel.
Follow the wires extending from the control panel into your yard. Insert a ground probe 6 to 12 inches into the ground to obtain the concealed valve box. Do not pinch or harm the neighboring wires. The wires assist you find the valve since they activate this assembly from the control panel.
Remove the dirt from above the valve box, then using a shovel. Pull the lid off the box.
Detach the screws holding the valve’s top housing into the bottom housing, with a screwdriver. Each manufacturer uses different fastener types. Ask your program’s manual for specific tool information.
Carefully pull the two housings apart. Do not lose the internal spring or plastic disk. They are usually under pressure inside the valve body.
Remove the plastic and spring disc, or diaphragm. Rinse both these assemblies with clean water.
Inspect both housings. Confirm that no cracks are found. Any physical damage to the outside housings requires immediate replacement.
Rinse both housings with clean water. Evaluate both housings following cleaning. Any attached shortcuts inside the housings needs to be free from sediment.
Set the diaphragm and spring back into the valve’s base assembly. Press the top and bottom housings together. Reattach the outside screws with the screwdriver.
Activate your irrigation system at the control panel. Observe the repaired valve. It should turn on and off as you operate the controller.
Put the lid back onto the valve box. Move dirt back on the box using the shovel.