SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

Quoted from "Wet_Boots"

Florida is flat as a pancake.

Not quite everywhere. I am about to start designing for my lawn and the sloping elevation is something I really need to understand how much it will impact the design. I am thinking of the K-Rain Indexing valve.

Property

Also, is there help here to design this system other that the manufacturer's services?

I have to admit I started laughing at "My second attempt and $70 dollars later..."
Far too much of my own experience in gained in exactly that same way.

Yeah sure,
I first went with a 4 zone Fimco indexing valve and a Hunter PGV anti-siphon valve. Fimco is a local company in Florida and their indexing valves are found in most of the hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot. I messed up on the initial install and didn't tighten one of the threaded inlets enough so I had a leak at the inlet of the anti-siphon valve. I thought hand tightening the threaded inlet in addition to some teflon paste would be sufficient... oh how I was mistaken. I already pvc cemented the idexing valve too, so I had to remove both the indexing valve and anti-siphon valve. I was soooooooooo mad!

My second attempt and $70 dollars later I went with the Rain Bird JTV/ASF-100 anti-siphon valve and a K-Rain 4 zone indexing valve. I ordered the K-Rain indexing valve online.

The install was pretty straight forward in my case. The indexing valve is a slip/slip configuration. Just use some pvc primer and pvc cement and you're good to go. I kept my indexing valve above ground as well.


Indexing valves from what I gathered are very common in Florida as we don't have to deal with "winter" here :p

Glad everything worked out.
Mind if I ask what brand index valve you bought?

Also, any hints on installation or problems you ran into would be appreciated.
These valves are rare and, since you just installed one, you just became the expert!

Hey guys, thanks for all the help. I ended up replacing both the anti-siphon valve and the indexing valve. Everything ended up really good.

I just have one last question. The anti-siphon valve (Rain Bird JTV/ASF-100) leaks water from the top of the vacuum breaker when I turn it off, is this normal? When the unit is initially off there are no leaks.. I then run it for a while still no leaks.. then when I turn it off sometimes water comes out from the top of the vacuum breaker.

The vacuum breaker is the right half of the anti-siphon valve. The left half is with the solenoid.

Thanks!


Doing some more reading on this forum I found out that what I am describing is normal. Thanks guys!
Low water pressure, and water backflow at the Anti-Siphon valve

Yeah, I've been to Florida twice and don't remember seeing a hill anywhere.
I honestly didn't think elevation was the problem but index valves are such a rarity it's hard to get solid answers.

BUT LOOK!! Timing is everything!!! A blog will be posted on http://sprinklerwarehouseblog.com/ this week about indexing valves.

I just wanted to 'disconnect' the indexer from backflow protection - I can imagine they would have issues if downstream lines ran uphill from them - luckily, Florida is flat as a pancake.

Wet-Boots,
I've never seen one either but I sure want to. No direct experience.
My info comes from trouble shooting guides by the manufacturers.
According to one company "If a valve skips zones... Sprinkler zone may be higher than valve (causing back flow.)
Put check valve at lowest point of incline nearest to valve or raise
valve higher than sprinkler lines."

K-Rain says "For installation with large terrain elevations, ... the valve should be installed at the highest point in the system, or check-valves should be installed near the valve in the elevated lines to prevent the back flow of water from the higher locations to the lower zones."

Still, in the very same page K-Rain says: "...may be installed below ground in a valve box or directly buried."

So, coin flip?

Quoted from "GatorGuy"

As mentioned earlier, if you want to keep that indexing valve you need to find the highest sprinkler head and raise it one foot above.

As far as re-working your system and eliminating the indexing valve, take a look HERE. Pictures and info on different types of valve manifolds.

Since it's the antisyphon valves providing the backflow protection, they have the elevation requirement, as opposed to the indexer.

I see indexing valves just about never. They aren't much good in areas where you need to winterize systems.

As mentioned earlier, if you want to keep that indexing valve you need to find the highest sprinkler head and raise it one foot above.

As far as re-working your system and eliminating the indexing valve, take a look HERE. Pictures and info on different types of valve manifolds.