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Why Is My Irrigation Box Full of Water? (What Can I Do?)
Have you noticed water collecting inside of the sprinkler valve boxes in your yard? Don’t worry; there are many reasons that water can collect inside valve boxes, not all of which require expensive irrigation repairs. We have listed the most common reasons water might be collecting in your irrigation boxes below, along with what you can do about it.
Table of Contents
Stormwater
If you notice water in a valve box after it rains, it could simply be stormwater. This is very common and may not necessarily indicate an issue with your sprinkler system.
What to Do?
Turn off the entire irrigation system and wait 2 days before checking the valve box again. You can assume it was just rainwater if the box is dry. If water is still present in the box, the most common reasons are a leaking valve or a broken pipe. You should call an irrigation company or landscaper for further inspection.
Low Spot
A low spot or poor grading could result in standing water in an irrigation box. Water will pool in low areas of a lawn and fill the box if installed in a low spot.
What to Do?
Grading correction will be needed if the irrigation box was installed in a low spot. You may need to call a yard drainage pro to eliminate standing water in the low spots and ensure the yard is graded to shed water away from the property. Don’t forget to raise the valve box if needed.
Leaky Sprinkler Valve
Sprinkler valves have rubber diaphragms and O-rings installed to prevent water leaks. A valve box will fill with water when those components fail.
What to Do?
Turn off the zone with the failed valve using your sprinkler control panel. A worn diaphragm or O-ring will result in a water leak that fills the irrigation box. It’s best to call a licensed irrigator if you find that a sprinkler valve is leaking.
Broken Irrigation Pipe
A broken sprinkler pipe will flood an irrigation box, especially when it’s near the valve. A broken pipe on the mainline side will leak constantly, while a broken pipe on a lateral line side will only leak when that sprinkler valve is activated.
What to Do?
Turn off the zone with the broken pipe using your sprinkler control panel. Repairing broken pipes requires locating, digging, and mending them with specialized tools and materials. It’s best to call a licensed irrigator when you discover a broken pipe.
Recent Irrigation Cycle
If water gathers in a valve box following an irrigation cycle, it could simply be irrigation water. This is a common issue, especially if the valve box was installed in a low spot of the yard.
What to Do?
Discontinue lawn watering for 2 days and check the irrigation box again. You can assume it was water from your sprinkler system if the box is dry. If water is still present in the box, the most common reasons are a leaking valve or a broken pipe. Contact a landscaper or irrigation company for further troubleshooting.
Overwatering
Excess water from overwatering your lawn will quickly fill up irrigation boxes with water. A typical North Texas lawn will only need approximately 1 inch of water per week.
What to Do?
Most warm-season grasses in North Texas will need 20–30 minutes of weekly watering with a pop-up-type spray head. Check the watering schedule on your irrigation control panel and adjust accordingly. Check the irrigation box for water once again after proper watering has been established.
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