Sprinkler repair help?

[infinkc]

I have some sprinklers that have a leak somewhere. There is not enough pressure for the heads to pop up.

Anyone know where to start?

I have a layout of how the lines are run, just do t know how to start to find the leak.

Cap the heads off? The lines are ran off a main feed line to branches to minimize the pressure drops.

Anyway to detect more water in the ground at a certain spot?

It’s all landscaped now, so trying to minimize the digging.

 

[mike93lx]

Run them for a while and look for the wet spot. Guess you could dig each head up and plug the line until it stops leaking

 

[flat350]

Plug the heads and fill it up with some pressure, wet spot should show up. Did they work at one time, there was enough pressure to operate them in the past ?

 

[duneslider]

I have had the luck hearing it. I have actually found 2 issues recently this way. It may not work if the leak isn't too big or it is deep but I could hear the spraying under ground where there wasn't supposed to be spraying.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Sprinkler lines are not deep enough to keep them from freezing so they have to be blown out each fall to keep them from freezing. I have a ground contact stethoscope that I use to find leaks by hearing them under ground or under concrete. It works fairly well for big leaks like you have. You might try a tool rental place and see if you can rent one in your area. They would work faster than waiting for a leak to show as a soft/wet spot

 

[Zeke]

Many pop up sprinkler heads have a flow adjustment in the center. If you have those and the threads aren't frozen, you can screw them down to stop the flow and the leak should show up rather quickly.

 

[The Cobbler]

are you sure the valve is opening all the way?

 

[FredWanaker]

like the last poster - are you sure the valve is open all the way? To lose so much pressure that the heads don't work, you would have a leak or huge bulge full of water in the yard.

 

[jubilee]

I agree with last two posters. Compressed air works well for me
on hard to find leaks. Takes a good sized compressor.

 

[infinkc]

are you sure the valve is opening all the way?

it is opened all the way, I am stating to think its not allowing the water to pass somehow.

I capped off all the sprinklers, i let the system run for awhile , didnt see any water coming up from the ground anywhere.

I un-screwed the caps off different locations, and there was pressure and water flow, but only shot water up a few inches. Was pretty consistent with all the locations.

 

[FredWanaker]

the valves I have sport an on-off solenoid, an on-off knob, and a valve adjustment on the top that can open up or shut down the flow. I also have a ball valve to each sprinkler bank so I can switch it off without turning the house off. Make sure all the valves in line are all the way open. If you have a pressure regulator before the sprinklers, make sure it is working properly.

 

[infinkc]

the valves I have sport an on-off solenoid, an on-off knob, and a valve adjustment on the top that can open up or shut down the flow. I also have a ball valve to each sprinkler bank so I can switch it off without turning the house off. Make sure all the valves in line are all the way open. If you have a pressure regulator before the sprinklers, make sure it is working properly.

i have 6 valves on my setup, all are working fine except this feed. They are standard Orbit brand ones that have the on-off and flow adjustment. Cant really see why this one may be flowing less unless the adjustment broke or something got in the line. have to open it up later. I do have a shut off just for the valves, but its blocked, lol. Guess i have to shut the whole house off for a bit.

 

[infinkc]

Plug the heads and fill it up with some pressure, wet spot should show up. Did they work at one time, there was enough pressure to operate them in the past ?

ran fine all last year, went to turn them back on this year and they barely come up. I dont get freezing temps when i am at.

 

[DieselNut88]

1. There can be debris in the valve causing the diaphragm not to operate properly.
2. There can be trash in the lines somewhere.
3. There is a large leak somewhere. Run the zone until you see water, it might take a while.

 

[rharman]

I'm voting for a hosed up solenoid or valve. $25 for the replacement at Home Depot. Just did one last week - my problem was a weepy sprinkler caused by the valve not sealing off completely.

 

[infinkc]

Well update. When I had all the sprinklers capped off, I turned the valve on. I noticed I didn’t hear any water flowing! So no leaks after the valve.
I opened up the valve, all looked good. Put it back together and no change.

Measured my house pressure, guess what 20psi!!! This was at the main coming in. Not sure what happened, but calling the water department tomorrow.

Really surprised I haven’t noticed any change inside the house, but guess everything is low flow.

 

[mike93lx]

Well that ain't good!