The Sprinkler system allows us to have the luxury of watering our gardens and lawns without much hassle. However, lacking necessary attention can cause the sprinkler valves to get drenched and muddy. To get you rid of such situations, we bring you a minimal maintenance guide explaining how to keep sprinkler valve box dry.
Along with the preventive measures to keep your sprinkler box dry, we have also discussed what causes the valve box to drench and how to upkeep your sprinkler system to extend its life span.
So, stay tuned until the end, and it might inspire you to mend simple faults of your equipment instead of summoning a technician every time.
How To Keep Sprinkler Valve Box Dry
Among all gardening equipment, sprinkler valves are most exposed to water and dust. So, they are somewhat made to withstand dirt and protect everything, including electric circuits inside. Therefore, little to moderate care to this system can pay off a lot.
So, even if your sprinkler box submerges in water or mud, it won’t cause any issue other than having to clean everything during routine maintenance. There are, however, some preventive measures to keep or reduce your system’s exposure to moisture.
Preventive Measures To Keep The Sprinkler Valve Dry
- Install your sprinkler valve box in a more elevated position than the drainage system. An abundant sewerage system helps too.
- Choose sturdy sprinkler valve boxes and if there is an option, choose one with a protective barrier. They seem to last longer than an uncovered one. They are covered well and protect the sprinkler valve box full of water after rain.
- If your sprinkler valves do not have a sprinkler valve box extension, don’t fill the surrounding with mud or soil. Empty the surroundings and then fill them with pebbles. They can soak water more efficiently.
- If your Valve box barrier breaks, apply adhesive like epoxy resin to resist humidity.
- Install an internal fuse that breaks that trips in contact with water. This will save your equipment from voltage surge and you from shock. Many modern sprinkler valves contain this fuse.
How Do You Drain Water From A Valve Box?
The preventive measures discussed above can reduce your hassles of post-installation maintenance a lot. However, they are not enough to save your system from drowning or getting wet. And you would not want your sprinkler valve box full of water for an extended period.
Hence, we will discuss a few methods to drain water and reduce such mishaps or any damage originating from them.
- Despite having good water and dust resistance, it is wise to often drain water from the valve box. It is even more essential during the winter season as the adjacent water clog can freeze and cause breakage to the system. Use a sponge or soaking cloth to drain the water.
- If you have a shielded valve box, unscrew the cover and use a sponge to soak the water out. Drain and clean sprinkler valves and ducts twice a week.
- Also, check the O-ring encircled around the sprinkler valves every time you open the valve box. They prevent leakage and secure interior components from external moisture and dust.
- The O-ring will become brittle eventually and break. So, every time during maintenance, apply lubricant on it. If your atmosphere is dry, apply the lubricant at frequent intervals. And if they break or get brittle, replace them.
What Causes Water To Clog Over The Sprinkler Valve Box
There are a few ways water can reach and clog your valve box. For instance:
- Water coming out of sprinkler valve: After cleaning surroundings, if you are confident that the spring valve has a leakage, you may need to change the O-ring. However, when you replace it or do any other troubleshooting, make sure you have switched off the power supply from the circuit breaker.
- If changing the O-ring does not stop the leakage, there might be a leakage in the pipe link. You can enhance the link using Teflon tape and reinstall it. You may need a pipe wrench and screwdriver to accomplish the tasks.
- Else, only a ruptured pipe or valve can cause the sprinkler valve box to drench. If that is the case, change the parts, or otherwise, your whole sprinkler system may fail.
If your sprinkler system drowns internally, follow the aforementioned steps as we described how to keep water out of irrigation valve box.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why there standing water in my sprinkler valve box?
If the drainage system of your garden or lawn is sufficient and water still subsists in your sprinkler valve box, check the stiffness of your O-ring and replace it if it’s fragile and leaking. Otherwise, check the valves and pipe connection for leakage and take the necessary steps according to our guide to prevent water from getting inside.
Should sprinkler valve box have water in it?
The sprinkler valve can resist water up to a point. However, draining water twice a week can reduce the gradual wear and tear of sprinkler components. During the winter, drain the accumulated water more often, according to our guide, to secure pipes or valves from fracturing.
Can sprinkler valves get wet?
Yes, the sprinkler valves can get wet and still function well enough. However, if you want to prolong the service span of your sprinkler valve, you can go along with our guide to reduce or prevent the valves from getting wet and mitigate wear and tear.
Bottom Line
The procedures and preventive measures on how to keep sprinkler valve box dry are pretty simple to carry out, even if you lack professional expertise. On the other hand, the hassle of changing or installing a whole sprinkler system is way more troublesome than the minimal effort behind the maintenance.
So, we hope that this guide will enrich your understanding of sprinkler valve box maintenance and interest you in taking care of your appliances. And Until we come with another guide, stay fine.
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If it has a motor Jason has a pretty good idea about how it works. Jason graduated in Automotive Mechanics Technology from Bishop State in 1992. After working on vehicles for 11 years he made the transition to selling tractors and lawn care vehicles. Currently, Jason writes and edits much of our content as he transitions into retirement with his lovely wife, Shelley.