How to Locate Lawn Sprinkler Valves in a Lawn

Many homeowners have an irrigation system for their lawn. This system usually consists of a timer, a backflow valve, sprinkler heads, water piping and sprinkler control valves. The sprinkler control valves open and close when activated by wires extending from the timer. Sprinkler control valves occasionally fail and need to be replaced. Finding the sprinkler control valve can be the most difficult part of valve replacement. But it's something any homeowner can do with some persistence.

Things You'll Need

• Small shovel
• Metal coat hanger
• Wire cutters

Instructions

1. Locate the drawings of the irrigation plan. Home irrigation systems are usually installed after drawings are made of the system. These drawings show the location of the pipes, the control heads, the backflow valve and the sprinkler control valves. Locating these drawings is an easy way to show where the sprinkler control valves are located.

2. Search near the backflow valve if there are no drawings of the irrigation system. The backflow valve is a valve to prevent irrigation system water from returning to the household water system. This valve is required in lawn irrigation systems. The backflow valve is normally located very near the point that water enters the irrigation system from the main water system. Sprinkler control valves are very often located near this backflow valve.

3. Following the wires from the main irrigation timer is another method to find a sprinkler control valve. Each sprinkler control valve requires a wire that carries electrical pulses from the timer. These wires are normally buried no more than 2 inches deep. These wires contain very low voltage and are not hazardous. Follow the wires to the sprinkler control valve by using a small shovel to uncover soil as you move from the timer to the sprinkler control valve.

4. Follow the water lines. A waterline will extend from the backflow valve to the area where the sprinkler control valves are located. This waterline can be buried several inches underground and is usually made of PVC pipe. Use the wire cutters to cut a length of wire from the metal coat hanger approximately 12 inches long. Use this wire to penetrate the soil and locate the waterline as it extends to the sprinkler control valve.

5. Another way to find the sprinkler control valves is to is identify chatter from a valve. Sprinkler control valves make a clicking sound as they open and close. Have a helper turn the irrigation system on and off. Slowly crawl on your hands and knees in the search area where the sprinkler control valve is suspected to be located. The sprinkler control valve will be found in the soil beneath the clicking sound.

Tips & Warnings

• If the irrigation system is located in a yard within city limits, the irrigation plan may have had to be approved by the zoning department. Check the city zoning department to see if the irrigation plans are on file.

• Make a drawing of the irrigation system once you find the sprinkler control valves. This will help to locate valves and other components in the future.

References

• Locate irrigation valves
• Searching for lawn sprinkler valves