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

might be a real slow closing valve.
Worn diaphragm, debris, etc.
I'd open and clean/fix valve first.

Sorry. Should have mentioned that the excess water is a relatively new occurrence and the sheer amount of water is the concern, particularly after seeing this month's water bill.

nothing will prevent water draining from a low head in a zone, unless that low head has a built-in check valve - that's your Maxipaw SAM head (SAM = Stop-A-Matic)

Wet_Boots, thanks for the reply. I guess my biggest concern is the sheer amount of water that fills the hole and runs down the gutter. The water does shut off eventually so we can eliminate the valve. It is the sprinkler that is furthest from the valve. Is there a way to check the integrity of the pipes that the sprinkler attaches to? There is a "T" that allows a swing arm and a drain (All the heads have a drain either attached or built into the line near the head) at this point. Maybe the glue or connecting points have failed?

If the water finally stops seeping, then no worries. If it never stops seeping, you have a valve problem. If the valve is okay, but the water is causing problems, then get a SAM version of the head to replace the original

Still trying to get the hang of a new house's irrigation system. Zone 3 (of 4) has one sprinkler, a Rainbird Maxi-paw, that seeps water for a long time after the zone shuts off. Its to the point where if I take the sprinkler off of the pipe, there is a steady flow still coming out of the pipe itself that fills the hole I dug to look at the sprinkler in question and runs down the street. I have not noticed any of the other sprinklers acting this way in the zone. Not sure if a broken pipe, leaking valve or ?