Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low to no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine, others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

Senin wrote:

My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low to no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine, others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?

Hi,
Leak?

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

Senin wrote:
My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low to no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine, others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?

You've looked at the system to make sure there are no broken pipes,
right? Sprinklers in our neighborhood used to get very low pressure in
early am because that was when everyone had their timers set to start.
City or well?

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

Have you let it run through more than one zone, to determine if you have low
pressure in just one zone, or ALL zones ?

Know this might give you a good hint as to the problem........


James

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

On Jul 13, 6:27 pm, "James" wrote:
Have you let it run through more than one zone, to determine if you have low
pressure in just one zone, or ALL zones ?

Know this might give you a good hint as to the problem........

James

It's crazy, sometimes they all work, sometimes none work, and
sometimes only one zone will come on full blast (and the others barely
trickle)---- the one that is the farthest away.

I live in the city. Inspected parts of the pipes, some are buried
underground and can't see them. Could it be related to the neighbors?

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

On Jul 13, 9:40 pm, Senin wrote:
On Jul 13, 6:27 pm, "James" wrote:

Have you let it run through more than one zone, to determine if you have low
pressure in just one zone, or ALL zones ?

Know this might give you a good hint as to the problem........

James

It's crazy, sometimes they all work, sometimes none work, and
sometimes only one zone will come on full blast (and the others barely
trickle)---- the one that is the farthest away.

I live in the city. Inspected parts of the pipes, some are buried
underground and can't see them. Could it be related to the neighbors?

You might have a clog in one or all of the sprinkler heads. Remove
them, flush out the line, and try it.

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

I would think that if there were a clog in a sprinkler head, why would they
work part of the time, but will not work at other times ?

How about the water pressure in your house.... does it seem to stay even,
always a good pressure ?

Do you use a pump, or do you have municipal water ?

James

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

On Jul 13, 6:40 pm, Senin wrote:
On Jul 13, 6:27 pm, "James" wrote:

Have you let it run through more than one zone, to determine if you have low
pressure in just one zone, or ALL zones ?

Know this might give you a good hint as to the problem........

James

It's crazy, sometimes they all work, sometimes none work, and
sometimes only one zone will come on full blast (and the others barely
trickle)---- the one that is the farthest away.

I live in the city. Inspected parts of the pipes, some are buried
underground and can't see them. Could it be related to the neighbors?

Based on that description, it is a system pressure problem. I would
install a pressure gauge and see what the pressure is doing both with
the sprinklers on and off and at different times of the day.

I suspect that someone up thread has it correct - all the neighbors
trying to water at the same time.

Harry K

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

On Jul 13, 8:58 pm, Senin wrote:
My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low to no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine, others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?

Sprinkler systems need both sufficient pressure and sufficient flow
volume. One or the other might not be up to the task.

It's entirely possible that it is a neighborhood problem (assuming you
don't run the sprinkler off of a well) - ask around. It is also
possible that you have a leak or diminished capacity water main. If
your house is older and the water main is galvanized, the inside may
be partially blocked - galvanizing doesn't last forever and it rusts
from the inside out. That would lower your flow volume considerably.
Test it by filling a 2 1/2 gallon bucket at different times of the day
and night. Time how long it takes to fill the bucket.

You need to get a water pressure gauge, ~$10, and hook it up to a hose
bib and take repeated reading throughout the day and night. Check the
pressure with nothing at all running, then turn on the sprinkler zones
one at a time and see what the water pressure is at the hose bib. You
should see the pressure drop as you turn on each zone, then the
pressure should build back up as the heads pop up. It should
stabilize at a pressure of at least 30 PSI - that's a fairly typical
minimum pressure for correct operation. If you see one zone has lower
pressure, you may have a leak.

I suspect it is a combination of problems.

R

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

On Jul 13, 8:56 pm, RicodJour wrote:
On Jul 13, 8:58 pm, Senin wrote:

My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low to no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine, others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?

Sprinkler systems need both sufficient pressure and sufficient flow
volume. One or the other might not be up to the task.

It's entirely possible that it is a neighborhood problem (assuming you
don't run the sprinkler off of a well) - ask around. It is also
possible that you have a leak or diminished capacity water main. If
your house is older and the water main is galvanized, the inside may
be partially blocked - galvanizing doesn't last forever and it rusts
from the inside out. That would lower your flow volume considerably.
Test it by filling a 2 1/2 gallon bucket at different times of the day
and night. Time how long it takes to fill the bucket.

You need to get a water pressure gauge, ~$10, and hook it up to a hose
bib and take repeated reading throughout the day and night. Check the
pressure with nothing at all running, then turn on the sprinkler zones
one at a time and see what the water pressure is at the hose bib. You
should see the pressure drop as you turn on each zone, then the
pressure should build back up as the heads pop up. It should
stabilize at a pressure of at least 30 PSI - that's a fairly typical
minimum pressure for correct operation. If you see one zone has lower
pressure, you may have a leak.

I suspect it is a combination of problems.

R

Thanks. Where it stands now, the third, farthest away station works
great. The other two closer stations drip. Does this sound like an
electrical thing or a plumbing thing?

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

"Senin" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jul 13, 8:56 pm, RicodJour wrote:
On Jul 13, 8:58 pm, Senin wrote:

My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low to
no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine,
others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?

Sprinkler systems need both sufficient pressure and sufficient flow
volume. One or the other might not be up to the task.

It's entirely possible that it is a neighborhood problem (assuming
you
don't run the sprinkler off of a well) - ask around. It is also
possible that you have a leak or diminished capacity water main.
If
your house is older and the water main is galvanized, the inside
may
be partially blocked - galvanizing doesn't last forever and it
rusts
from the inside out. That would lower your flow volume
considerably.
Test it by filling a 2 1/2 gallon bucket at different times of the
day
and night. Time how long it takes to fill the bucket.

You need to get a water pressure gauge, ~$10, and hook it up to a
hose
bib and take repeated reading throughout the day and night. Check
the
pressure with nothing at all running, then turn on the sprinkler
zones
one at a time and see what the water pressure is at the hose bib.
You
should see the pressure drop as you turn on each zone, then the
pressure should build back up as the heads pop up. It should
stabilize at a pressure of at least 30 PSI - that's a fairly
typical
minimum pressure for correct operation. If you see one zone has
lower
pressure, you may have a leak.

I suspect it is a combination of problems.

R

Thanks. Where it stands now, the third, farthest away station works
great. The other two closer stations drip. Does this sound like an
electrical thing or a plumbing thing?


If the problem zones have automatic drain valves, it could be that the
pressure is not getting high enough to close the valves, so the valves
leak large amounts of water, so the pressure can't get high enough to
close the valves. A master valve that is not all the way open could
cause this problem.

Bob

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

On Jul 14, 10:33 am, "Bob F" wrote:
"Senin" wrote in message

ups.com...





On Jul 13, 8:56 pm, RicodJour wrote:
On Jul 13, 8:58 pm, Senin wrote:

My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low to
no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine,
others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?

Sprinkler systems need both sufficient pressure and sufficient flow
volume. One or the other might not be up to the task.

It's entirely possible that it is a neighborhood problem (assuming
you
don't run the sprinkler off of a well) - ask around. It is also
possible that you have a leak or diminished capacity water main.
If
your house is older and the water main is galvanized, the inside
may
be partially blocked - galvanizing doesn't last forever and it
rusts
from the inside out. That would lower your flow volume
considerably.
Test it by filling a 2 1/2 gallon bucket at different times of the
day
and night. Time how long it takes to fill the bucket.

You need to get a water pressure gauge, ~$10, and hook it up to a
hose
bib and take repeated reading throughout the day and night. Check
the
pressure with nothing at all running, then turn on the sprinkler
zones
one at a time and see what the water pressure is at the hose bib.
You
should see the pressure drop as you turn on each zone, then the
pressure should build back up as the heads pop up. It should
stabilize at a pressure of at least 30 PSI - that's a fairly
typical
minimum pressure for correct operation. If you see one zone has
lower
pressure, you may have a leak.

I suspect it is a combination of problems.

R

Thanks. Where it stands now, the third, farthest away station works
great. The other two closer stations drip. Does this sound like an
electrical thing or a plumbing thing?

If the problem zones have automatic drain valves, it could be that the
pressure is not getting high enough to close the valves, so the valves
leak large amounts of water, so the pressure can't get high enough to
close the valves. A master valve that is not all the way open could
cause this problem.

Bob- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks.

Another strange development. I turned on a hose/faucet near the
sprinkler system. Amazingly, then I tested the sprinkler system and
all the 3 sprinkler zones worked perfectly.

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

"Senin" wrote in message
ups.com...
My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low to no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine, others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?


Low water pressure.
Leak.
Faulty diaphragm in actuator.
Obstruction.

Steve

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

"Senin" wrote in message
ups.com...
My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low to no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine, others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?


Gawd, I love my Rain Bird Maxi Paws on a high pressure irrigation water
supply. A mouse would go through that system and not get clogged!

Steve

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

"James" wrote in message
. ..
I would think that if there were a clog in a sprinkler head, why would they
work part of the time, but will not work at other times ?

When the water kicks on, the rocks (obstructions) go to the orifice in the
sprayer. Another time, they don't, or rearrange themselves differently.
Each time, they drop to the bottom waiting for the next wave. And every
time, it's different until they become clogged in one spot.

Steve

Sprinkler system low water pressure
 

"Senin" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jul 14, 10:33 am, "Bob F" wrote:
"Senin" wrote in message

ups.com...





On Jul 13, 8:56 pm, RicodJour wrote:
On Jul 13, 8:58 pm, Senin wrote:

My automatic outdoor water sprinkler system suddenly has low
to
no
water pressure. It just came on. Some times it works fine,
others it
has low pressure. Any ideas on what could cause that?

Sprinkler systems need both sufficient pressure and sufficient
flow
volume. One or the other might not be up to the task.

It's entirely possible that it is a neighborhood problem
(assuming
you
don't run the sprinkler off of a well) - ask around. It is also
possible that you have a leak or diminished capacity water main.
If
your house is older and the water main is galvanized, the inside
may
be partially blocked - galvanizing doesn't last forever and it
rusts
from the inside out. That would lower your flow volume
considerably.
Test it by filling a 2 1/2 gallon bucket at different times of
the
day
and night. Time how long it takes to fill the bucket.

You need to get a water pressure gauge, ~$10, and hook it up to
a
hose
bib and take repeated reading throughout the day and night.
Check
the
pressure with nothing at all running, then turn on the sprinkler
zones
one at a time and see what the water pressure is at the hose
bib.
You
should see the pressure drop as you turn on each zone, then the
pressure should build back up as the heads pop up. It should
stabilize at a pressure of at least 30 PSI - that's a fairly
typical
minimum pressure for correct operation. If you see one zone has
lower
pressure, you may have a leak.

I suspect it is a combination of problems.

R

Thanks. Where it stands now, the third, farthest away station
works
great. The other two closer stations drip. Does this sound like
an
electrical thing or a plumbing thing?

If the problem zones have automatic drain valves, it could be that
the
pressure is not getting high enough to close the valves, so the
valves
leak large amounts of water, so the pressure can't get high enough
to
close the valves. A master valve that is not all the way open could
cause this problem.

Bob- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks.

Another strange development. I turned on a hose/faucet near the
sprinkler system. Amazingly, then I tested the sprinkler system and
all the 3 sprinkler zones worked perfectly.


That suggests to me that the valves don't like the high water
pressure.

One thing you could do is remove the last sprinkler on the problem
zones, then flush the zone to wash out any debris.

Bob