How to Connect a Closed Irrigation Valve

Turn off the power and water for the irrigation system.

Dig around the valve box until you hit the rock level that the box is resting on.

Remove the box from the hole and set it aside.

Identify the two wires protruding from the top of the valve. These wires may have a wire cover on them. One wire will be connected to another wire coming from the main power supply.

Remove the plug on the free side of the valve. This will be the outlet you use to release the water flow.

Attach a 2 1/2 inch SCH 80 nipple to the side of the valve where the plug used to be.

Measure, mark and cut a piece of PVC pipe to 6 inches long. Run a small coat of PVC cement around one end of the pipe, and slide it into the nipple. Do not push the pipe into the valve outlet.

Run a small coat of PVC cement around the clean end of the pipe, and slide an elbow connector on. Rotate the elbow until the free outlet points down.

Determine the depth that you want for the new line. The measurement should be made from the top of the elbow installed in Step 8 to the bottom of the pipe position. Measure, mark and cut a piece of PVC pipe to a length 1 inch shorter than your depth measurement.

Run a coat of PVC cement around the first end of the pipe cut in Step 9, and slide it into the elbow outlet. Coat the free end of the pipe, and slide the second elbow connector into place. Rotate the free outlet so that it points in the direction of your desired path.

Measure the distance between the valve you are working on and the new valve you want to run it to. Measure, mark and cut a corresponding piece of PVC pipe to a length 1 inch shorter than your measurement.

Dig a hole for the new valve until the depth is 4 inches deeper than your desired placement. Line the hole with 4 inches of crushed rock.

Place the valve on top of the crushed rock.

Connect the new valve using the instructions in Steps 5 to 10 -- except the actions will be completed in reverse.

Run a length of wire between the two sprinklers. Strip 1/2 inch off both ends of the linking wire, one of the new valve wires and the free wire of the closed valve. Twist the wires on the valves with the ends of the connecting wire. Slide a wire connector over each connection. Squirt a small amount of silicone on each connector until it completely covers the stripped areas of the wires.

Remove the wire connector on the closed valve which connects it to the grounding wire. The connector may need to be cut to be removed.

Run a length of wire between the two sprinklers. Strip 1/2 inch off both ends of the linking wire, the free wire on the new valve wires and the grounded wire of the closed valve. Twist the wires on the valves with the ends of the grounding wire. Slide a wire connector over each connection. Squirt a small amount of silicone on each connector until it completely covers the stripped areas of the wires.

Place a valve box over each valve. Replace the dirt so the valve boxes are held firmly in place.

Turn the power and water supply on.