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[email protected] jneiberger@gmail.com is offline
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Default How to unclog a sprinkler system valve

On Jul 23, 7:22 pm, "
wrote:
On Jul 23, 7:18 pm, "
wrote:



I was able to get the sprinkler system line repaired and now I have a
valve stuck open. I know I had to do this many years ago but I don't
remember the details. I just tried unscrewing the cap for the valve in
the valve box and much of it came apart, but I wasn't sure what to do
with it at that point. So, I just put it back together and it seemed
like it worked! For a few minutes anyway, then it clogged again. I
guess I'll just go open it up again.


When I unscrew the assembly, the top of the valve come off and I see a
black membrane with a tiny little metal tube in the center. Am I
supposed to disassemble this further to get to what's underneath the
membrane? I don't remember, and I don't want to damage the membrane by
doing something it's not intended to do. Does it just pop off with a
flat screwdriver? I'm tempted to try, but I won't use much force. I
don't want to break the valve because then I absolutely would have to
have someone come out to repair it.


Any thoughts?


Thanks!
John


Crap. I just remembered that I forgot to put the spring back in. :-)
I'd better go do that. heh heh....


Well, I went to put the spring back in and the membrane came out
easily. That was when I found a freaking 1/4-inch screw stuck inside
the valve! I took it out, replaced the spring and put it back
together. It's still not working quite right, though. The valve
doesn't completely shut off and I can't figure out why. I'm going to
let it run for a little bit because my yard needs the water, but then
I'll have to shut off the main supply valve to the system and then
figure out what to do with that sticky valve.

Thanks,
John