Sprinklers do not work. Help!?
Question:We have sprinklers in front and backyard and both run from one timer system. A week ago, we had a flood caused by other water source, and ever since the sprinklers in the backyard(where the flood was) do not turn on. We've had all wires reconnected in backyard box, tested the timer box, we know that the wires in back box still carry current and are connected correctly, but the sprinklers just dont work. What could we be missing? The front yard, all other sprinklers still work. When we had the flood, the city did have to come out and replace the box on the street, but dont know if that would affect anything seeing how there's only one pipe coming back to the house from there and the front yard still works fine?? Please...any ideas or suggestions...
Answers:
Doesn't sound like a electrical problem. Maybe a valve problem:
Could be a bad valve controlling the back. Swap it with the one in front and see if it works.
Automatic sprinkler valves have a solenoid that actually opens the valve (the screw-on part where the wires connect). If the solenoid is bad, the valve will not open even if electricity is provided, and the solenoid needs to be replaced. You could swap solenoids with the front system and see if they work.
Most electric valves have a manual flow adjustment that lets you control the water flow. Check this screw and make sure it isn't shut off, preventing water flow.
No water to the back at all? Even if you turn the valve on manually? If this is the case:
It could be an obstruction in the plumbing. When the city changed out the meter to your house, some obstruction may have been introduced into the pipes (debris, plumbers tape, rock, etc.). This may have traveled down the pipe and is lodged somewhere in the valve/pipe to the back yard.
Or when the repair work was done the pipe to the backyard was cut/capped off.
All I can think of. Good luck!
Have you checked for water in the actual wiring at the spray heads. Perhaps they still have water in them and the signal is not getting through.
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