Super Sprinkler Newbie ---odd problems

21 years ago

Greetings all,

I am so glad that I found the forum. My fiance and I currently closed and moved into our new house. The house has a built in sprinkler system, which has Hunter heads. In our attempt of getting everything in order and working. I proceeded to plug in the controller (going to check the brand tonight) and then turn on the valve for the H20. Well to my surprise, the controller has no control over the heads, as a couple popped up in the back even with the controller set to off, and would not go down even with the controller unplugged. I'm thinking that its something electrical.

Second problem, is that some of the heads are missing, while some are not coming out. I think I may have found a supplier for the heads. The heads that are not coming out...how can I get them to come out..I could try physically pulling them...would that hurt them? I have heard that one could use a compressor for some work on inground systems...how would that work?

Thanks for all your help!

oekundar

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Comments (8)

mikie_gw
21 years ago
lifting up sprays is pretty easy, guess hang on and unscrew nozzle.

For the popular hunter rotors, pia to lift...
if you head to home depot and lowes, they have a head that will look identical to hunter - buy one of the keys for it, has two finger holes and a litte nylon t on on side and a hex wrench on other side.

probably easiest to just dig around all of them a bit so dirt wont fall into them and to get to the body nut with pump pliers and just remove the guts.
Probably want to cleanthe whole system,,,, flush em all out,, remove/flush/replace furtherest head first, working your way back to the water source.
oekundar
Original Author
21 years ago
I was able to find more of the heads yesterday and this morning. I will actually be raising the heads, by extending the PVC. I was going to order the tool from Sprinklersupplies4less.com to use...$3 or something.

Seems I have a bit of work ahead of me...no biggie...as i will be taking apart all heads and cleaning them first...prior to replacing them. Try to save cash.

Is there a procedure for the flush?
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coho
21 years ago
Procedure is: take it apart and clean it out. I fixed up a fitting on a faucet so I can test each sprinkler to insure it works after cleaning. Be very careful not to get any dirt in the pipe or they will stick again.
Also I would start at the water source end so that any dirt in the line will be flushed out rather into the head you just cleaned.Any thins you would need to know in in this link, you will have to copy and paste as the link box will not work tonight.
oekundar
Original Author
21 years ago
Did I miss the link?...could you please post it again?

thanks,

O
mikie_gw
21 years ago
maybe JessStryker.com
coho
21 years ago
Sorry. Here it is.

Here is a link that might be useful: Click here
oekundar
Original Author
21 years ago
FIXED most of the system...and WOW is all I can say...didn't know I had so many sprinkler heads....turns out that a broken I.P.S was the culprit...so essitially one part of the yard got flooded. Well that has fixed all the problems but one...I believe one of the valves is stuck on open...so a set of sprinklers stay on despite what the controller says...now my controller is a RainBird ESP-LX (12) and I'm thinking that the one currently stuck may have been accidentally rewired or I have a faulty valve. Thoughts?
coho
21 years ago
The link I posted above tells how to trouble shoot zone valves.
Disconnect a wire from the solonoid. If the valve closes, its permanently on. Or check for about 24 Volts Ac at the solonoid. 24, its on. Also could be the solonoid is blocked or stuck open. Don't loose the little return spring. Perhaps the manual bleed off is open. Or the diaphragm has a hole or tear.
Please read the troubleshooting guide until you understand how the valve works. Then finding the problem is easy.