In most cases, your sprinkler valve box will house your manifold and valves. Occasionally valves will be above ground. Valve boxes are generally around the permitter of your house - so when searching for your valves, start there!
You may hear them referred to as controller timers, irrigation controllers, or lawn sprinkler controllers. No matter what name you use, the sprinkler control box is the primary brain behind your sprinkler system.
Metal detectors can find sprinklers heads and valves without a problem because they have some parts that are made out of metal. But if these metal parts are too small, the detector can't find them. Sprinkler heads have springs to move the riser; valves have screws, springs, and solenoids.
The controller for the sprinkler system is typically located inside your garage, mounted to an exterior wall. To turn off your sprinkler system at the controller, simply turn the dial/knob on the controller to the off position.
The Valve Box 12 is the standard size for a household and will fit for most landscape projects. This valve box can easily fit 3 valves but can manage 4.
Expansion disk rain sensors operate via a gauge attached to the sprinkler system. Disks inside the gauge absorb water and expand as more rain falls. That sends a message to the sprinkler system controller and interrupts the signal that turns on the sprinkler.
Yes. Sprinkler controllers are interchangeable. You can change almost every controller of a sprinkler.
Although the underground pipes can remain functional for 40 years or more, most of the other components of the system, including the control panel, wiring, valves, and heads all need replacement at, or before, the 20 year point.
The control valves regulate the flow of water through your entire irrigation system, from the main water source all the way to the sprinkler heads. They may or may not be connected to an automatic timer. If connected, they are opened and closed by the timer. Otherwise they can be turned off and on manually.
Wyze Sprinkler Controller can be safely installed outdoors using a Wyze Weatherproof Sprinkler Controller Box. This secure outdoor enclosure protects your controller from the elements and from water damage.
The trenches will be relatively shallow, usually 6 to 12 inches deep, depending on your area's freeze cycles and frost severity. The trench must also be deep enough to allow the sprinklers to retract underground to prevent breakage from lawn machines. Dig the trench by hand or rent a trencher (a real timesaver).
Pipe trenches for an in-ground sprinkler system need to be at least 7 inches underground and no more than 10 inches. If the pipe is less than 7 inches underground, the PVC pipe is susceptible to the weight of anything above ground and could develop cracks.
My recommendation is to bury sprinkler lines 8-12 inches. I usually try to keep a standard depth of 10" because it provides more safety if I need to do some type of ground work so I don't have to worry about hitting lines. A walk-behind rototiller generally won't go deeper than 8".
Valves can be grouped together in manifolds, or installed individually - and valves should always be buried inside a plastic irrigation valve box. Never bury a valve directly in the dirt.
Try not to unplug the box, as doing so can erase your schedule settings, which you'll have to fix later on. If you turn off the water this way and nothing happens, there's an underlying issue that a professional needs to address. In this case, you'll need to shut down the water at the source.