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

Hi all, just found this forum and am new to sprinkler systems. So basically i was doing some sprinkler repair in my new house. I had a busted water line under the sidewalk but when i dug up the pipe i noticed that teh typical 1" line that feeds my yards was reduced to a 3/4" line before the main sprinkler valves. I replaced the assembly with a 1" line but now i noticed that certain zones will just automatically begin spraying as soon i turn the main valves back on. I am guessing that whoever installed this system before was using the 3/4" line a flow reducer or a pressure reducer. Do you think that is possible? I guess i have to install a 3/4" reduction in the line again. The other thing i noticed was that when the sprinkler system is turned on some of my rainbird sprinklers will not rotate back to start position. I think these were working before and i am guessing that the higher water flow or water pressure is affecting them. Is this possible?



thanks

Well, i went and created a 3/4" restriction but when i was ready to turn on the main valves again one of the two valves broke (the one closer to the city main). This project is killing me - 3 weeks of continually having to fix something. I have to call someone to change that bad boy out - no way am i going to mess with that one.



I just find it odd that even with the system controller off the sprinklers started spraying as soon as i turned on the main valve. Too bad the darn thing is broke now because now i dont know if my changes will fix the prob.

Quoted from "Wet_Boots"

Always suspect operator error first. If the system was operating correctly before you cut the supply plumbing, thrn maybe you weren't so very tidy, and there is now dirt and debris to be cleaned out of valves and/or heads.

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To answer the question of whether a smaller-diameter section of pipe is ever used to reduce flow and/or pressure in a sprinkler system, the answer is "No."





i flushed out the line as best as i could to eliminate any debris - i doubt its debris that causing the rainbirds to stop functioning properly. I went on their website and they say that over pressure in the lines can cause the impact sprinkler head to not reset.

Quoted from "Mitchgo"

So you have your main water irrigation supply shut off, and then when you turn it on several of the zones turn on for a few seconds?

1st- turn the valve on slowly, never quickly

2nd- sounds to me like you have a leak in the main line or a weeping valve. Check your water meter leak detector

They just keep spraying - not just for a few seconds even when the controller is turned off. As soon as the main valve was opened they rose up out of the ground and just started spraying with almost full pressure.