Bleeding Issues of Common Sprinkler Systems

Valve Solenoid

• The valve solenoid is the main control component of an irrigation valve. It allows water to flow through the unit when activated, either by hand or electronically. If the valve solenoid has been opened by hand for reasons such as drainage or manual activation, the valve will continue to allow the water to bleed through the unit and sprinklers until the solenoid is closed by hand. A timer can't close a solenoid that has been opened by hand. Grasp the top of the solenoid, like a knob, and turn it clockwise or to the right to close it.

Valve Bleed Screw

• In front of the valve solenoid on top of the valve is a bleed screw. The bleed screw is used for drainage purposes and should be opened during the winter to allow water to escape the valve. After the irrigation system has been set up for the spring, after being dormant in the drainage position during the winter, it's easy to forget to tighten the bleed screw. Replace the bleed screw cap or tighten the bleed screw until it's fully closed to allow the valve to shut off flowing water from the sprinklers.

Open Spray Head

• If water seems to bleed out of the sprinkler spray head instead of spray, there might be a problem with the nozzle or the sprinkler housing. Use the supplied sprinkler tool to twist open the radius screw and loosen the nozzle. Remove the nozzle and confirm that all debris or blockage is cleared before reinserting it and tightening the radius screw. If the nozzle adjustment does nothing to help the bleeding, you might need to dig up the housing and confirm that it's properly installed to the swing-pipe assembly below ground.

Pipe Leak

• Pipe leakage is tricky because you're never quite sure where the pipe is leaking, only that the sprinklers are receiving low water pressure from the properly functioning water valve. During the winter, if the ground received a hard freeze and the sprinkler system wasn't properly drained and blown out, the frozen water inside can wreak havoc on an underground irrigation system. Ice expands inside the pipes and breaks them, the water sprinklers and sometimes the valves. Pipes in question will must be dug up, inspected and replaced. Before winter settles in, properly winterize your irrigation system.