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I was having a problem with leakage past my control valves. The system was 10years old and the valves were all the rainbird APAS 1' type which someone had told me were not that good and suffered constant leak pass problems.

I replaced all the valves (all with rainbird 100-DV_A 1" series. Water leaking past the valves now seems worse than ever. I have wet spots in several places on different zones.

I do not have a "backflow device or breaker valve" installed before my valves, its not needed per code, as I have city water in the home and use a well,pressure tank and well pump for irrigation, the two systems being completely separate.

My question is how do I prevent this water leaking past the valves, the pressure is a constant 45-60psi, and the leakage is small, but significant over time between watering cycles.

I will install another valve if needed but all my zones are currently used up by the 8 zone programmer.



Please help.

Thanks for the response guys,

I have tried bleeding the valves and hand tightening the solenoids (nothing to agressive), they have been turned on and off several times manually. I do not believe solenoid tightness is the problem or bleeding of the valves is required.

My workaround right now is to go into the basement and turn the well pump on/off between watering cycles this prevents the water tank from filling/recharging, but this a pain and defeats the purpose of an automated sprinkler system!

Would a PVB valve before the zone valves help with this issue ?

Steve

Next step:

I will take all the tops off clean out any debris, reassemble and bleed all the valve (at the same time).Maybe this will cure the problem. I will post again when I have done this and let you know result.

So a PVB valve is not needed. Good this saves $60 and additional work. Changing all 8 valves wasn't cheap.

Thanks for the help.

Update:

Took off each valve top - no debris or sand. Flushed the piework to the valves. Valve diaphrams showed "rust" film on top so I cleaned it off and rinsed in water. Reassembled. checked tightness of solenoids, I got an extra 1/8turn on 3 of them without overtigtening. Pressured up the system. Bled the valves, all together, then one by one. Checked tanked pressure. 55psi almost full pressure. Left it overnight.

Some of the valves were definately holding pressure, there was a different "feeling/sucking/pressure release" when I opened them.

Checked this morning tank pressure zero. = leak past valve (s).

If I leave pressure in tank and turn off supply before the valves, then the tank holds pressure forever. So its not the supply line to the valves, its not backflow to the pump from the tank.



Maybe the water is not clean enough ???? its frustrating to renew all the valves then have the same problem all over again. BUT thanks anyhow for the help and the replys.



Steve

No it does not have a master valve or a PVB valve before the 8 zone valves.
I have a shutoff valve (manual ball type) before the zone valves.
I have an 8 zone timer and all zones are used.

best regards
Steve