Kazamali
New Member
Hi folks, found this awesome forum a couple of weeks back. Really great source. I have a really weird problem with my irrigation system and would appreciate any insights (Sorry for the long read). Overview:
-Controller: Hunter Hydrawise Pro HC (24 zone).
-18 zones (12 rotor zones, 6 pop up zones)
-All RainBird valves (~7 years old)
-Master Valve Setup (Rainbird)
-Connection: Main city supply line->PVC ball valve->backflow manifold->Master valve->Zone valves
My issue is that, for certain zones, when I first energize them, the rotors range from just spitting water to gurgling and they hardly rise. If I turn off the zone and IMMEDIATELY reactivate, the heads pop up great, I get full blast service and they stay that way for the duration of the program( this behavior is across all of the rotor zones, except for one). If I leave the system for a few hours and test again, the problem reappears. This happens whether I'm using the controller or actuating the solenoids by hand(for instance, I activate the MV by hand and then walk to the zone and activate it by hand, too). I've replaced the solenoids/diaphragms in both the master valve and the problematic zone plus cleaned out the valve head/body/channels with a wire. I've also replaced all the sprinkler rotors (RB 5000s) in my problematic test zone and still having the issue. I don't have any major leaks anywhere on the property (at least nothing that would manifest itself in a decent amount of time) I'm ready to pull my hair out because for most of the 18 zones, I have to energize them manually for a minute, turn off, then run them for the normal time...rinse/repeat. My lawns have not been in the best shape since we bought this house 5 years ago (2nd owner) so I'm suspecting something pre-existing( as I'm finally taking the time to really look at my irrigation).
My engineering mind is telling me that this is a localized pressure issue that is somehow exacerbated when the system is idle/full of air and needs to 'prime'? Once flushed and primed, everything is great, so it seems my OVERALL city/system pressure is fine. It's like the MV or the zone valve, upon first energizing, either 1. don't get enough pressure or 2. can't open all the way for whatever reason. I've tried messing with the master valve timing and letting it prime the zones for up to 5 minutes before turning on the sprinkler zones, but that hasn't helped neither.
The only things left on my 'to try' list are:
- I have a small leak at the main ball valve joint (on the output side) that I'm going to try and patch, (the leak is enough to fill the box in about an hour) but that's probably a red herring?
- Did I mess up the diaphragm replacements? I'm wondering if I should open them up again and just flush them out with full line pressure?
- Is there something in the backflow manifold that's causing this? I haven't touched this yet.
Any help/advice would be appreciated. I'm pretty handy around the house, but my wife is ready to call the irrigation folks herself with the amount of time I'm spending on this
Thank you!
-Controller: Hunter Hydrawise Pro HC (24 zone).
-18 zones (12 rotor zones, 6 pop up zones)
-All RainBird valves (~7 years old)
-Master Valve Setup (Rainbird)
-Connection: Main city supply line->PVC ball valve->backflow manifold->Master valve->Zone valves
My issue is that, for certain zones, when I first energize them, the rotors range from just spitting water to gurgling and they hardly rise. If I turn off the zone and IMMEDIATELY reactivate, the heads pop up great, I get full blast service and they stay that way for the duration of the program( this behavior is across all of the rotor zones, except for one). If I leave the system for a few hours and test again, the problem reappears. This happens whether I'm using the controller or actuating the solenoids by hand(for instance, I activate the MV by hand and then walk to the zone and activate it by hand, too). I've replaced the solenoids/diaphragms in both the master valve and the problematic zone plus cleaned out the valve head/body/channels with a wire. I've also replaced all the sprinkler rotors (RB 5000s) in my problematic test zone and still having the issue. I don't have any major leaks anywhere on the property (at least nothing that would manifest itself in a decent amount of time) I'm ready to pull my hair out because for most of the 18 zones, I have to energize them manually for a minute, turn off, then run them for the normal time...rinse/repeat. My lawns have not been in the best shape since we bought this house 5 years ago (2nd owner) so I'm suspecting something pre-existing( as I'm finally taking the time to really look at my irrigation).
My engineering mind is telling me that this is a localized pressure issue that is somehow exacerbated when the system is idle/full of air and needs to 'prime'? Once flushed and primed, everything is great, so it seems my OVERALL city/system pressure is fine. It's like the MV or the zone valve, upon first energizing, either 1. don't get enough pressure or 2. can't open all the way for whatever reason. I've tried messing with the master valve timing and letting it prime the zones for up to 5 minutes before turning on the sprinkler zones, but that hasn't helped neither.
The only things left on my 'to try' list are:
- I have a small leak at the main ball valve joint (on the output side) that I'm going to try and patch, (the leak is enough to fill the box in about an hour) but that's probably a red herring?
- Did I mess up the diaphragm replacements? I'm wondering if I should open them up again and just flush them out with full line pressure?
- Is there something in the backflow manifold that's causing this? I haven't touched this yet.
Any help/advice would be appreciated. I'm pretty handy around the house, but my wife is ready to call the irrigation folks herself with the amount of time I'm spending on this
Thank you!