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Leaks on main line

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Wet_Boots

Supreme Member

Posts: 4,102

Location: Metro NYC

11

Saturday, September 17th 2011, 4:33pm

If you have a master valve, you don't worry about any of this.

By the way, Auto-parts-store clamps are not going to be all-stainless-steel ~ big difference

TeaMan

Active Member

Posts: 27

12

Sunday, September 18th 2011, 3:32pm

Leaking solenoid valves?

I have Rainbird CPF series valves, 11 of them. I don't have power to them yet, so I'm operating them manually. I feel like I have my leaks gone now, but I'm loosing lots of pressure, fairly fast. I went to every fitting on the main line, inspected for wet below the fitting, and ran my finger below every fitting and they are dry. I'm loosing about 2 1/2 PSI over about 1 hour it seems. If it's not going through the solenoid valves or one of them, I am really stumped as to where it's going. I turned the water main on, cycled all 11 solenoid valves, and you can hear them close, or the rushing of water stop anyway. The pressure drop slowed it seemed, but didn't stop.

Has anyone seen these valves to weep a little? It doesn't take much of a leak to drop a couple PSI in an hour.
Thanks

TeaMan

TeaMan

Active Member

Posts: 27

13

Sunday, September 18th 2011, 3:37pm

You know Wet Boots, I do have a master valve, and thought about exactly what you were saying, even if I have a small leak, it won't be under constant pressure when the system isn't running. I guess I convinced myself that the master valve could leak "possibly" and I wouldn't want a leak on the main.
I'll inspect my entire mainline pipe for leaks, but don't suspect I'll find any in the pipe itself. I am curious if anyone has seen a solenoid valve to weep? Or at least before it was actually powered up. Not sure why not powering them would make any difference though.
TeaMan

Central Irrigation

Supreme Member

Posts: 364

Location: Central Minnesota

14

Sunday, September 18th 2011, 6:04pm

Valves will weep. It is a fairly common repair. Generally, you can actually hear water squeezing past the diaphragm if you put your ear as close to valve as possible. 2 psi over an hour is a tiny leak, if a leak at all.

Mitchgo

Supreme Member

Posts: 502

Location: Seattle

15

Monday, September 19th 2011, 12:45am

Manually turning the valves on / off through the solenoid a whole bunch of times is not the best for the valve.

If your on a well, and you have a master valve-- why are you so worried about such a small leak? I mean depending on your design and size of the system you'll use anywhere from 300-3000 gallons of water per cycle ( or more or lesss) ..

TeaMan

Active Member

Posts: 27

16

Monday, September 19th 2011, 3:14pm

Good point Mitchgo, I think I have it solved anyway. I guess just anal. Wanted it fixed.
TeaMan

TeaMan

Active Member

Posts: 27

17

Monday, September 19th 2011, 3:25pm

Master Valve

Hey, I never thought to ask, do you guys think there is any reason that the CPF100 Rainbird valve wouldn't work as a master valve or is there a better choice. For now I've been using the CPF100, but haven't really fired the system up at all.
TeaMan

Central Irrigation

Supreme Member

Posts: 364

Location: Central Minnesota

18

Tuesday, September 20th 2011, 6:01pm

It's a good valve. I would suggest you stay with what you've been using. It will make repair easier having only one style of valve.
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