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

@Mitchgo:

Yes, they are pop-ups. My suspicions are that it has something to do with the drip system that is on the same section. I really need to rip the whole system out and re-do it, but I have been fortunate enough up to this point to nurse it along. May be time to pay the piper...

What kind of sprinkler heads are they?

If they are popup sprays you can turn them off with a flat head screwdriver from the srew in the middle of the nozzle.

this will help force the leak to surface.. also check your water meter for flow at that point

Quoted from "Music Junkie"

Do you know why my pic did not show up? Was the pic host banned or something?

You really didn’t do anything wrong.
This website’s macro for inserting images expects the URL of the image (“http://i55.tinypic.com/2laab79.jpg”).

You provided the IMG code for your image(“[img]http://i55.tinypic.com/2laab79.jpg" class="resizeImage" alt="" />[/img]“).

The site's macro imbedded the two HTML codes together (“<img src="[img]http://i55.tinypic.com/2laab79.jpg" class="resizeImage" alt="" />[/img]“).

I just looked at the source code to find the URL of your image and reposted it.

@Mitchgo & Wet_Boots:

Thanks for the leads. I will check for any broken heads or lines. Nothing is obvious at this point, but I will have to do some digging (literally).....

They are low, I guess. I only lowered them about 2" with the replacement (by the time I chopped off the old valves and installed the new ones). If I can't find any leaks, maybe I will try to raise them up with some couplings and additional 3/4 sch40. 12" above highest sprinkler in this zone is not that much higher that it sits right now, so should be no biggie.

I appreciate the leads!

Thanks!

MJ

awww you beat me lol

Sounds like there is a break in the line somewhere, are a broken sprinkler head/ fitting.

If you bought the valve to replace it, I'm sure you read up on that kind of valve?

That's atmospheric vacuum breaker valve, it's made to dump a little bit of water to prevent backflow. Sounds like there isn't enough water pressure/flow to fully pop up the poppet and create a seal, thus leading me to think somewhere else in the line there is a break.
Actually you say both are doing it? Check your shut off handle at your irrigation shut off. Make sure it's fully on and check to make sure if there are more then one valve

Those look low, and probably aren't to code , so they can't do there job and part of the reason why it is leaking... In my state code is for those valves must be 12" ABOVE the HIGHEST sprinkler head in that zone.

If the brand-new antisyphon valve is leaking at the vacuum-breaker cover, I have to wonder if there isn't a badly broken pipe on that zone, so that the pressure can't get high enough to seal.

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An older valve of that type would leak water at the vacuum-breaker cover because the poppet washer will have cracked or broken.

Thanks worachj! Do you know why my pic did not show up? Was the pic host banned or something? At any rate, I really appreciate your help. I promise that the pic was vertical when I took it..... I am usually half-way competent at this stuff. For some reason I am struggling with this site. I never received my confirmation e-mail to fully activate my account either, so there must be some issue on my end.

The cap on the side opposite the solenoid has little slots in the sides. When the sprinkler comes on (either when I turn the little black screw manually or when the time activates it automatically) water comes gushing out of those slots. The sprinklers still work, but it floods out the area where the valves are. If the sprinklers did not come on, I would think I have a root clogging the way and backing it up or something like that. The sprinklers work fine though. I am at a loss. I thought the new valves would solve the problem.

MJ

The OP's picture

A pic would help, can you upload it on some picture hosting site such as photobucket and post the link for us?