How to Install a Pressure Reducing Valve for a Water Irrigation System

A yard sprinkler system is comprised of pop-up sprinklers, pipes, pressure reducing water valves, known as the valve manifold, and an irrigation timer, which controls the system. Usually more than one water valve is installed to control different sprinkler zones in the yard. When the timer sends the signal to the water valve, the valve opens and causes the sprinklers to pop-up and water the lawn. As an example, think about using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe to install two valves. After the system is planned and the parts are collected, you might have questions about installation.

PVC pipe cutter
PVC primer
PVC glue
Teflon tape
Sandpaper
Wire connection caps
Wrench
Wire stripper

Instructions

- 1
  Sand the rough edges off of one end of the PVC pipe that serves as the future link between the irrigation shut-off valve and the water valve manifold.
- 2
  Brush the end of the pipe with PVC primer, allow it to dry and brush the end with pipe glue. Prime and glue the inside of the shut-off valve and insert the pipe into the valve. Twist the pipe a quarter turn to secure it and allow 15 seconds for it to dry before letting go.
- 3
  String the irrigation controller wire along the trench and tape it to the pipe.
- 4
  Cut off a 3-inch section of PVC pipe with a PVC pipe cutter. Lay out the section, four water valve fittings and water valves the way you planned them beside the valve manifold trench.
- 5
  Roll Teflon tape over the threads of the fittings following the direction of the threads. Screw the two water entry fittings into the "Flow" inlet sides of the valves and tighten the fittings with a wrench, no more than a turn and half.
- 6
  Sand the pipe section and the other end of the shut-off valve PVC pipe. Prime and glue the pipe end, pipe section and water entry fittings. Slip the shut-off valve pipe and section into the fittings as planned. Give the connections a quarter turn and hold them in place about 15 seconds. Adjust the fittings so that the manifold lays flush to the ground.
- 7
  Extract the two wires from each valve. Select the white wire and two other color-coded wires from the controller wire and bend the rest back. Strip all exposed wires about a half-inch. Choose one wire from each valve and twist them and the white wire together. Twist the one of the two color-coded wires with a wire from each valve.
- 8
  Twist each wire union into a connection easy cap and slip the caps into grease caps for protection.
- 9
  Roll Teflon tape around the remaining two fittings, twist them into the outlet openings of the two valves and tighten them with a wrench.
- 10
  Sand, prime and glue the PVC pipes which lead to the two zones of the irrigation system. Prime and glue the open water valve fittings and insert the PVC pipes into their designated water valves.
- 11
  Lower the valve manifold box over the valve manifold and cover the trench around the edges with dirt. Place the lid on the box.

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