DIY Valve Box

A valve box typically refers to an enclosure, or casing placed over a water valve. Valve boxes provide protection from damage that can result from accidentally hitting, or stepping on a valve. The box also provides easy access for maintenance and repairs and hide unsightly irrigation components from sight. Valve boxes are available in most hardware stores, and are commonly made of durable plastic. Installing a valve box in your garden will help you avoid a costly valve repair job.

Stick
Shovel

Instructions

- 1
  Place the valve box on top of the valve and position the box so the valve is located at the center of the box. Trace the outline of the valve box on the ground, using a stick or screwdriver.
- 2
  Lift the box and dig a hole in the ground a little bit bigger than the outline, using a small shovel. Dig the hole as deep as the height of the valve box. Take extra care to avoid hitting or breaking the pipes while digging.
- 3
  Place the valve box into the hole and mark each exact spot at each side of the box where a pipe has to slip through. Draw a line on top of each side of the pipe to indicate the width of the opening that must be cut.
- 4
  Create the opening where each pipe will pass through the sides of the box by cutting the lines you marked in Step 3 using a hacksaw.
- 5
  Place the box on top of the valve, with each pipe slipping trough its corresponding opening. Replace the box cover and back fill the area around the box with soil. Sprinkle water around the box to compress the soil, then tamp the loose soil slightly to compress it some more. Open the valve to check for any leaks

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