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

Hi there. We are first time homeowners and had a company come out to winterize our sprinkler system, now that it is time to turn it back on we are having problems. We were told to turn on the main valve (yellow handle) slowly in the basement and then go to the outside, however when we try to turn this on water comes pouring out of it like a faucet turned on the whole way. We have the two ball cocks? (the ones you turn with flathead screwdriver), and the other two valves (blue handles) on a unit outside of the house. Right now the ball cocks are turned up/down, and each blue handle valve is turned perpendicular to the pipe it is on. Also in front of the unit outside there looks like a single valve just above ground (looks similar to the valves you find in the underground green box) that is currently in the off position. For an idea of what our outside unit looks like, the one on this link is pretty much the same www.schepers.com/irrigationtips.html However when I follow the instructions on this site we get the same result stated above.

Laurie

Yes the two blue handles are parallel with the pipe they are on, and the test cocks are closed (they are perpendicular to the valve). Water comes gushing out at valve in the basement, where the yellow handle (main shut off) is.