View a Chart for Troubleshooting Automatic Irrigation Problems
General Irrigation Troubleshooting |
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| Problem: | Reasons: | Solution: |
| Water leaking from the sprinkler cap around the pop up stem while the system is running | Worn wiper seal | Replace the wiper seal or sprinkler cap if needed |
| Water leaking from the sprinkler cap around the pop up stem or nozzle dribbles water after the system shuts down | Low head drain down | Install a check valve either below the sprinkler or as a retrofit part in the sprinkler itself |
| Dry spots / wet spots / overspray | Incorrect sprinkler adjustment or nozzle selection | Adjust or replace nozzles/ sprinklers to insure 100% head to head coverage without excessive overspray |
| Water bubbling up or geyser at the base of the sprinkler while the system is running | Broken riser or fitting below the sprinkler | Replace the riser or fitting as needed preferably with a swing joint |
| Water leaking out of an anti-siphon valve while the system is running | Worn seal on the anti-siphon cap plunger | Install new cap assembly |
| Water leaking out of an anti-siphon valve after the system shuts down | Valve is lower than the sprinkler heads, system drain down | Install a check valve on the outbound leg of the valve. This is poor system design not a valve problem. |
| Water run off | Slopes / hard soil / high precipitation rates | Cycle and soak, break up your watering times into smaller increments with an interval in between to allow the water to soak in |
| Misting | Excessive pressure | Put a pressure regulator on the line or retrofit with pressure compensating sprinklers |
| Sprinklers at the end of the lateral not spraying consistently with the ones near the valve | Too many heads on a line, insufficient line size, or Insufficient pressure | Split up into 2 sets (add a valve), increase pressure(if regulated), retrofit with pressure compensating heads and lower flow rate nozzles |
| Problem: | Causes: | Solution: |
| Valve won't actuate | Timer not functioning | Check for 24 volts AC at the timer terminal block( valve common and numbered valve terminals) while the timer is running that valve. If you have less than 24V AC you have a timer problem, If you have 24-28 V AC you have to look at the valve or wiring. |
| Valve won't actuate | Bad wiring | Check for 24 V AC at the valve while the timer is running that valve. If you have 24+V AC at the timer but less than 24V AC at the valve you have a wiring problem. |
| Valve won't actuate | Bad solenoid | If you have 24V AC at the valve. While the timer is running that valve, take loose one of the wire connectors from the solenoid lead and repeatedly make and break the connection with the bare wires.
If the solenoid clicks as the connection is made and released then the solenoid is ok If it doesn't click it needs to be replaced. |
| Valve won't actuate | Worn diaphragm | Turn off water supply, remove the valve bonnet and inspect the diaphragm for wear, weather checking, grit and debris, and elasticity. |
| Valve won't actuate | Plugged upper chamber outlet port | Turn off water supply, remove the solenoid and with a small gage steel wire ensure that the outlet port is not plugged.
If worn, replace. |
| Valve will actuate but won't close | Bad solenoid | If you have 24V AC at the valve. While the timer is running that valve, take loose one of the wire connectors from the solenoid lead and repeatedly make and break the connection with the bare wires. If the solenoid clicks as the connection is made and released then the solenoid is ok If it doesn't click it needs to be replaced. |
| Valve will actuate but won't close | Plugged upper chamber inlet port | Turn off water supply, remove the valve bonnet and inspect the inlet port for plugging sometimes the inlet port is routed through the center of the diaphragm. Clear port if possible, if not, replace diaphragm or valve as needed. |
| Timer won't actuate the valve | Timer not plugged in | Check to make sure the timer is plugged in. With the battery back up timers, the display will indicate that a valve is running but without AC power the timer is unable to actuate the valve. |
| Timer won't actuate the valve | Blown fuse | If your timer has a fuse check for continuity across the fuse. Replace fuse if it fails either a visual or electrical continuity check. |
| Timer won't actuate the valve | Bad transformer | Check for 24V AC where the transformer is connected to the terminal block. If you have 24+V AV at the terminal block the transformer is ok, if less than 24V AC replace transformer. |
| Timer actuates valves erratically | Programmed incorrectly | Zero all settings, reset, and reprogram. When reprogramming, refer to the owners manual or bring panel in to Grangettos for assistance. |
| Timer actuates valves erratically | Bad Panel | Replace or send in for repair. |
| Timer won't hold programming | AC power interrupted and bad/no battery | Check to insure you have AC power. Replace back up battery. |
INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY GRANGETTO'S