QuestionQUESTION: We bought a home with a Lawn Genie sprinkler system....we're not sure exactly what we need to get it going.....we're not sure if there is a preventer valve on the outside of the home...there is a pipe along side the outside faucet...but we just don't want to turn it all on and realize something we had missed......can you help??
ANSWER: Hey Lois, I hope this helps. The first thing I would suggest, is that you get a manual for your "Lawn Genie" controller. Go to this website www.coastwaterworks.com and they have manuals for this controller that you can download. This way you can turn on the valves, by using controller and see what is working, or if it is working. I'm not sure when you say "preventer valve" what you mean by this. And also I'm not sure when you say "we just don't want to turn it all on and realize something we had missed" what you mean by this. There should be a valve(manual) that needs to be turned on, that just turns on the sprinkling system. I would suspect that the pipe you describe that runs along side the outside faucet, would be the pipe that runs to the sprinkling system, is it on or can you turn it on? I don't know if I have been of any help, I'm just not sure what question you are asking of me. Maybe you can email back to clarify a little better. Thanks and have a great day.
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QUESTION: Hi Jim...thanks for getting back to me...I think we're missing something on the outside of the house...a plumber said there was some sort of a meter....the valve I was talking about was the backflow valve...I think that is what the pipe is....I can't see any valve that we can turn on..is it on the outside of the house or inside??? I'd hate to turn the system on and have water everywhere is what I meant to say...sorry!! I will look for the manual on that website....I see i can turn on valves with the controller...but just need to know if there really is something on the outside I need to do??? Thank you!!1
ANSWER: Hey Lois, I hope this helps. What the backflow preventer does, is basically allow the water to flow from the house water into the sprinkling system, but won't allow the water to flow from the sprinkling system back into the house water and contaminate it. Even if you don't have this device installed, you should still be able to turn the system on, without any water leaking anywhere. As far as the main turn on valve goes, If you live in a warm weather climate, normally there will be a valve near where the main water line enters the house ( on the outside). If you live in a cold weather climate, where the system is shut off for the winter,then it is usually either in the basement (crawlspace), or sometimes it is installed in a pipe sleeve that goes down into the ground, out by the water meter, or in a pipe sleeve between the water meter and the house. If it is in a pipe sleeve, you will need a key to turn it on. I would think the plumber would be able to tell you where this valve is, or if you even have a separate turn on valve for the sprinkling system. Also, do you know where your automatic (solenoid) valves are? These valves would also be good to know where they are, in case they need to be worked on. Look for a plastic valve box in the ground, or valves that have wires running to them above the ground. Let me know if I can be of anymore assistance, thanks and have a great day.
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QUESTION: I will look for the main turn on valve...we're in a cold climate so it has to be on the inside of the house near the main water line....thank you!! Can you tell me what the Automatic solenoid valves look like?? I can look for the plastic valve box if I know what the valves look like.....then I can tell...if it will function....so there is no meter or anything needed on the outside of the house then either right?? The plumber we had I think just wanted to come back and charge us more for another job...I didn't think that was right...we have friends who has systems and they too have no such meter on the outside....sheez....what people will do to make a buck!! Would that website address you gave me have a picture of the solenoid valve??? I can look there too.....
Thank you so much Jim!!!!
AnswerHey Lois, I hope I didn't deceive you, but some cities, counties, etc. do require some sort of backflow preventer. Again, you might have one, but just don't relize it. As far as a meter goes, I have no idea why you would need a separate meter for the sprinkling system. A real good site to check out for irrigation questions, is a web site www.irrigationtutorials.com. Check it out, I think you will find it very helpful.They would have a picture of the solenoid valves. Let me know if I can be of further assistance. Have a good day.
