
The control valve is what tells the pipes in your sprinkler system to open and close, ensuring the right part of your landscaping receives water when you set it to. It regulates the pressure, turns the water on and off, and controls the zones that receive water.
How to wire an irrigation valve to an irrigation controller?
How to Wire a Rain Bird Auto Sprinkler Valve
- Strip 1/2 inch of the protective plastic covering off the end of the white sprinkler wire and one of the colored wires.
- Twist one of the two black wires coming from the top of the valve around the white wire and twist the other around the stripped colored wire.
- Unroll the wire toward the control box. ...
- Unplug the power to the control box. ...
How to program an irrigation controller?
- Select the Program (A, B, or C) you want to program. ...
- Select the "schedule" function (Days To Water). ...
- Select "start time" and specify the time that you'd like the irrigation to begin. ...
- Select the "run time" or related function. ...
- Program setup is complete once you have entered in the Water Schedule or “Days To Water”, Start Time, and Station Run Times.
How to replace an irrigation valve?
Six Steps to Replace a Sprinkler Valve
- Gather the Right Tools and Parts. As you start the sprinkler valve replacement process, it’s ideal to have the right tools on hand. ...
- Disconnect the Wiring. If you are replacing an automatic sprinkler valve, you will first need to disconnect any attached wiring into the valve.
- Swap Out the Old Valve. ...
- Prepare the New Valve for Replacement. ...
How to open irrigation control valve cover?
- Locate your home's water valve.
- Remove the nut locking down the main cutoff valve cover if necessary.
- Put one hand on the cover and the other hand on the valve box and try to separate them.
- Turn on the flashlight and clear cobwebs with your screwdriver or channel locks.
- Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the water.

How does irrigation control valve work?
1:252:16How Do Sprinkler Valves Work? Rain Bird Irrigation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAllows the high inlet water pressure to push the diaphragm. Up which allows water to flow throughMoreAllows the high inlet water pressure to push the diaphragm. Up which allows water to flow through the valve. Once the flow of electricity to the solenoid stops the plunger drops inside the solenoid.
Should irrigation valves be on or off?
Make sure the sprinkler valve is closed, unless it's the valve farthest from the main water source. You'll want to leave this valve open and remove the sprinkler nozzle to allow air to escape when you turn on the water.
How do I find an irrigation control valve?
The cheapest and easiest way to find buried irrigation valves is often to probe the soil with a thin rod, such as a long screwdriver. Often you can estimate the rough location of the irrigation valve, then find a buried valve box by probing the ground.
How do I turn on my irrigation control valve?
0:023:00How To Turn On An Irrigation System - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDevice you'll see two items or in most cases two items that cocks sticking out of the side grab aMoreDevice you'll see two items or in most cases two items that cocks sticking out of the side grab a regular screwdriver. And turn them. So it would be perpendicular to which the water would flow. Out.
How do you manually turn off an irrigation valve?
0:300:50Manually Turning a Valve On and Off - Rain Bird Residential ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo turn off the valve when the irrigation controller is running turn off the zone or station at theMoreTo turn off the valve when the irrigation controller is running turn off the zone or station at the controller. Or turn the flow control stem clockwise until it is. Shut you.
How do you manually turn on irrigation valves?
0:171:00Manual operation of Rain Bird valves - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTurn the solenoid in the on or counterclockwise. Direction about a quarter turn then wait a fewMoreTurn the solenoid in the on or counterclockwise. Direction about a quarter turn then wait a few seconds until you hear water rushing through the valve.
Where is my irrigation control box?
1:313:31How to Find Locate a Lost Sprinkler Irrigation Valve Box, or ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe're going to see we get louder and I've also lost my goal this is about that be looking for thatMoreWe're going to see we get louder and I've also lost my goal this is about that be looking for that about every six inches of dirt. We still do the same signal. But you wouldn't that you'd know where
How do I know if my sprinkler solenoid is bad?
Signs You Have a ProblemThe Water Won't Shut Off. If you have this problem, it's very likely the solenoid. ... Low or Uneven Water Pressure. The solenoid controls the water pressure. ... Water Leaks. There are many points in a sprinkler system that can leak. ... Current Testing. ... Valve Inspection. ... Parts Replacement.
How do I know which sprinkler valve controls which zone?
Mark each valve with a white paint marker to indicate a zone number that it operates. For future use, make a diagram of your sprinkler system on paper, showing the location of each valve box, each valve and the area it irrigates.
How do you know if an irrigation valve is open?
Turning it to the left lifts an internal gate that releases water incrementally as it turns. The gate lifts entirely when the handle is turned fully counterclockwise. If the handle will turn no farther counterclockwise, the valve is open.
Why are my sprinklers not turning on?
When the sprinkler zones do not turn on at all, it is generally a problem with the electrical signals running from the controller to the valve solenoids. More rarely, it is caused by a faulty valve that needs to be rebuilt or replaced.
What are the three types of main sprinkler valves?
There are three basic types of valves used in irrigation systems – gate valves, ball valves, and electric valves.
How do I know if my sprinkler valves are open?
Turning it to the left lifts an internal gate that releases water incrementally as it turns. The gate lifts entirely when the handle is turned fully counterclockwise. If the handle will turn no farther counterclockwise, the valve is open.
How do I know if my water valve is open?
To determine if a water valve is open or closed, there is a simple general rule you can usually follow. Basically, if the handle is turned 90 degrees to the flow, the valve is switched off.
What do the knobs on sprinkler valves do?
External bleed valve models have a knob or screw to turn and the water sprays out of the top of the valve. c. Manual On/Off - Turn solenoid 1/4 turn counterclockwise to turn valve on manually.
How do I turn off my irrigation system?
0:412:37How to Turn Off the Water to Your Sprinkler System - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTurn it a quarter turn that shuts the water off if the handle is perpendicular to the pipe. TheMoreTurn it a quarter turn that shuts the water off if the handle is perpendicular to the pipe. The water is off if it's parallel to the pipe like the front one that means the water is on.
Why do irrigation systems need valves?
Why is this necessary? Not all zones in an irrigation system should be watered the same. Some zones may require devices with higher pressure , while other zones may require very low pressure .
How does a flow control valve work?
The flow control handle works by regulating how far the diaphragm opens and allows water to go through when the valve opens. By reducing the flow of water through the valve, this also reduces the water pressure of that valve’s zone.
How does a valve work?
How valves work: When idle , water flows into the inlet and fills the bonnet chamber above the diaphragm. The pressure from the water holds the diaphragm in place, keeping the valve shut. First, an electrical signal is sent from the controller to the valve solenoid. The solenoid coil becomes an electromagnet, and pulls the plunger up into ...
What is the most common type of sprinkler valve?
Today, the most commonly used sprinkler control valves are electric powered, using 24 volt alternating current (VAC) solenoid valves. These electric solenoid valves are turned on and off by an irrigation controller, which eliminates the need for you to constantly open and close a valve manually.
What is the purpose of the valve guide?
The purpose of this guide is to explain what valves are used for, why they are important, how they work, who needs them, and finally, how to choose a valve.
Why use brass valves?
If your valves will be above ground, then you may want to consider a brass valve as the plastic degrades over time when exposed to UV radiation. A fix for this would be to build an enclosure around the plastic valves shielding them from UV rays.
How to choose a valve?
Here are the factors to consider when choosing a valve; the power source, type of valve, the features offered, materials it is made from, size of the valve, and the limitations and capacities of the valve.
What is a control valve?
The control valve is what tells the pipes in your sprinkler system to open and close, ensuring the right part of your landscaping receives water when you set it to. It regulates the pressure, turns the water on and off, and controls the zones that receive water. Knowing how the control valve works will help you should you ever need to repair it. ...
What is the control panel of a sprinkler system?
The control panel acts as the brain for the system. When you set your timers to automatically start and stop the sprinklers in different zones , this information is stored in the control panel. The control panel is what sends the signal to the control valves for the sprinklers to operate in the correct zone.
What is a valve box?
The valve box is where the series of pipes all come to connect. The valve box connects to the main control valve. When the timer signals to the control valve that a zone needs to be put on, the valve opens for the correct zone. The pressure is then sent through the water pipe to the sprinkler heads in that zone. Once the watering is completed, the valve shuts off and the water is stopped. The lack of pressure causes the sprinkler head to retract until the next time it needs to be used.
What is the role of control valves and drains?
Role of control valves and drains. Although primarily used to control or isolate portions of a building‘s sprinkler system , control valves and drains play another important role. They allow the building owner or a designated individual to perform testing and maintenance on the system. In a recent National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study, ...
What does a closed sprinkler valve mean?
A closed valve indicates that no water will flow beyond the valve and serves to alert the observer to the situation. In the event of a fire, no water would reach the individual sprinklers.
What is the main drain on a sprinkler system?
Main drain. The main drain, or test valve, on an automatic sprinkler system primarily drains water from the system for maintenance. The main drain also tests the operation of the water supply for the sprinkler system. Testing determines that all valves controlling the system are open and that water is available.
Why do sprinklers shut off?
A system shutoff typically occurs when the building owner or designated individual doesn‘t return a valve to its open position once repairs and/or maintenance are complete. Testing the system and verifying the status of control valves help to identify and correct conditions that lead to failure of the sprinkler system.
How does a gate valve work?
The valve operates by raising and lowering a gate that cuts off the water flowing through the valve casing. The gate connects to a large brass threaded stem with a circular threaded handle that connects to the yoke. As the operator rotates the handle counterclockwise, the stem extends further and further out of the handle, indicating the relative degree of the gate opening. As the operator rotates the handle clockwise, the threaded stem moves back into the valve and presents a lower profile. When the stem is no longer protruding beyond the handle, the gate valve is closed.
Why are valves important?
Valves allow building staff to perform testing and maintenance on sprinkler systems . It's extremely important that all valves and drains have proper identification. Indicating valves visibly show when a valve is open or closed.
What is the purpose of a drain test on an automatic sprinkler system?
Documented drain test results on the Automatic Sprinkler Grading Report (ASGR) can help evaluate the water supply. Current testing of the main drain is a mandatory part of the ASGR. Without the testing, the sprinkler system cannot receive credit.
What is a control valve?
The purpose of a control valve is to turn a sprinkler system either on or off. Sprinkler Warehouse offers both control valves and manual valves. It is common for modern systems to have valves that connect to a controller for automatic operation.
What are the different types of valves?
Valves are available in three basic categories including ball valves, electric valves, and gate valves. Each valve type is designed for specific use in the sprinkler system. Our customers can learn more about these and other valves available at our online store for free at Sprinkler School, hosted by Sprinkler Warehouse.
Does Sprinkler Warehouse stock valves?
Sprinkler Warehouse stocks a variety of different valves from the best brands in the industry. No matter your irrigation needs we have a valve for the job.
Can you adjust a sprinkler head?
If one of the valves will be used for drip irrigation, leave enough room between the valve and the... The ability to adjust sprinkler heads allows you to provide every bit of your lawn or garden with... The ability to adjust sprinkler heads allows you to provide every bit of your lawn or garden with...
