FAQ: Sprinkler System Running After Controller Unplugged

Q: Why would my sprinkler system continue running even after the controller is unplugged?

A: There are two reasons why your sprinklers would continue running:

1. It is possible that your valves have been opened manually. You will need to locate your valve box(es) and twist the solenoid(s) on the valves clockwise until snug. The solenoid is located on the top of the valve and looks like a cylinder with two wires coming out of it.
2. It is possible that you have debris in the valve, which is causing them to remain open. To fix this, you’ll need to disassemble the valve, rinse all the parts with clean water and re-assemble the valve.

FAQ: Hearing Banging or Whining Noises When Irrigation System Turns On or Shuts Off

Q: Why do I hear banging or whining noises when my irrigation system turns on or shuts off?

A: When an irrigation zone is passing enough water through the piping that the velocity is faster than 5 feet per second, the system may start to water hammer. Water has a specific weight that when traveling at fast speeds can act like a battering ram inside the pipe and damage pipe, heads, fittings and valves. Water hammer puts a tremendous amount of strain on irrigation components.

The best way to reduce water hammer is to design your system with appropriately-sized pipe for the zone flow requirements. Pipe friction loss charts are used as a guide to size piping based on the relationship of volume, velocity and pressure loss. These charts can be found on our web site by clicking on the following link.

If your pipe is already in the ground, there isn't much you can do about the sizing. You can try tuning your valves by using the valves flow control feature. Here are the steps:

1. Start with your valve flow control wide open.
2. Start to turn the flow control knob clockwise until you start to see the spray from the sprinklers drop.
3. Stop and open the flow control a half of a turn. The flow of that valve is now tuned to the zone requirement.

If that does not solve the problem, water hammer arresters can be purchased from a plumbing supply and installed to try and fix the problem.