Question
I'm having new sprinkler valves installed tomorrow, so I shut off the irrigation valve in hopes that the water will drain out of the pipes overnight.  I've had a problem in the past when repairing certain irrigation pipes where the water continues to flow in the pipes after I shut off the valve to the entire irrigation.  

After I turned off the valve today, I turned on a water spigot next to one section of valves and the water flowed freely, as if nothing was turned off.  When I turned on a spigot further uphill (very slight uphill grade)the water in the lower spigot stopped.  Then I turned on another spigot on the opposite side of the yard and it flowed too.  This one was uphill also.  Does this mean that for the gardener to install the valves (ten in all) I will have to run the spigots above the valves to keep the water drained from the pipes?  Otherwise, the water to the valves will continue to flow thru the pipes, causing a big problem with the installation.  Please advise.

Answer
Thanks for your question.
It appears you will need to replace the shut-off valve before any other work can be preformed. Having the water flowing while changing the automatic valves is a hugh risk of getting dirt or stones in the valves. That will only give you more problems in the future.

Matt