How To Replace "The Diaphragm" of an Irrigation Valve

Valve repair should be handled immediately before any serious damage occurs to your landscape or irrigation equipment. But before you look at the valves let's check you irrigation wiring. Many irrigation problems can be caused by faulty wiring. A poor wire connection or shorted wire can cause a valve to fail to open or close. Begin by turning off the circuit breaker controlling the power to your irrigation system. Next check the all your wire connections (automatic timer, valves, master control valve) Corroded wires due to water seapage is a common cause of wiring malfunctions.Use a continuity tester also knownas a "multitester" to track down breaks in the circuit. Repair any faulty wiring making sure your connections are waterproof by using a grease cap.

Repairing Irrigation Valves

If none of your zones operate you want to check your master control valve. You may have simply forgotten to turn it on after you winterized during the previous year. If just one zone is malfunctioning the problem is probably due to a valve in that particular zone. Many water distribution problems can be corrected by adjusting the flow control on the valve. Most valves can be adjusted with a wrench a by hand depending on the manufacturer. If a zone does not shut off automatically it is probably due problem with the zone control valve. You can try to dislodge any dirt or debris stuck in the diaphragm of the valve by using an external bleed screw. If the problem still persists you will need to disassemble and clean out the valve by following the manufacturer's instruction.

Here are the general steps to replace a valve:

Turn off the water supply
Unscrew the valve bonnet from the valve body
Remove the valve bonnet assembly and spring
Gently pry the diaphragm out of it's seat
Flush out the valve body and seat with clean water
Press in a new diaphragm
Replace the spring and the valve bonnet
Tighten the screws or the hold down ring
Turn on the water
Check for leaks

		It is best to replace a cracked or damaged valve body or bonnet. If a manual valve is leaking or becomes hard to turn you should first check the packing nut. The packing nut is located at the top of the valve bonnet where the stem enters the valve. This is a very common place to find a leak. Start by loosening the packing nut. If the problem has not corrected itself check the threads on the valve stem. If the threads are damaged you will need to replace the entire valve stem.
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