Question
Our laundry room is off our detached garage. We recently had work done on the water line that leads to the garage. Our sprinkler system runs off the garage line. Ever since the work, things have been weird with our sprinkler system. Sometimes we here running water by the valves, but no water is running out there. Why would that be happening? Also, water seems to be leaking around some of the sprinkler bases? Do you know why this would be happening? I never used to here running water back there. Where is it going?

Answer
Thank you for your e-mail. Let start with the first part of your concerns. You say there is a water running sound at the valves but no water is coming from the sprinklers. When you hear there water running, are the sprinklers running at that time, what I mean is, is the system scheduled to be running at the time you hear it? Or is it running all the time? If it is scheduled to run at the time you hear the water going through the valves and nothing is coming out of the sprinklers, it could be that there is a broken pipe in the lateral line. Check around the yard to see if there is a certain area that is really soaked or even puddling up. If it is running all the time, it could be that there is some debris in the valve and it is keeping the diaphragm open and water is leaking through. But it may not be enough to come out of the sprinklers. You'll have to turn off the main water line and take the head of the valve apart to remove anything that does not belong. Okay, number two. The water that is running out of the sprinklers. Is this happening after the system shuts down, or all the time. And are the sprinkler heads that are leaking, are the on a slope or hill? If it is after the sprinkler system shuts down, then you either need the install a back flow device or change out the sprinkler heads to a head call s.a.m. rainbird makes a very good one. It is called "seal-a-matic" it keeps water from leaking out of the head after the system shuts down. Number three. When you had the work done on your water line, what type of work was done? There could be to much water pressure now or debris could be in the lines causing alot of different things. I would really need to know a little more info to give you a better answer. So if you would like to give me more info I will get right back to you with the answers. Shame you don't live in So. Cal. I could come take a look and get it taken care of right away. Thanks Bill