How to Add Valve Boxes to Your Sprinkler System

There are many people that will think about getting a sprinkler system for their home. You can raise your home’s value and keep the lawn watered and fresh without any hassle. However, there are a lot of factors that you will need to think about and one of those is how to install the valve boxes for one.

The box is the home for the control valves, which help to prevent anything from freezing underground. This is an excellent option for homes that are in the Northern parts of the country and the winter months are harsh. You will usually find that they are installed automatically when you get the sprinkler system installed but there are times that you can do it yourself.

The first thing that you will need to do is cut of the metal bars on the box with a handsaw. These are the parts that will close off where the pipe runs. You will usually find that they are shaped like half circles and are at the bottom of the box that you are placing into the ground. This will simply make it easier to put the box over the set of pipes that are already in the ground.

You will need to know where the control valve already is in your garden and then dig around it. You want a hole that is big enough to put the box in and maneuver around. Be careful while you are digging because it will be very easy to accidentally catch the wires to your sprinkler system or even break the pipes. These can cost a lot of money to replace and repair.

The box will have a cover on it and you will need to remove this so that you can put the box over the control valve. You should make sure that this is in the center of the item and so that the pipes remain at the bottom. You may need more than one box stacked on top of each other, depending on how deep the system has been placed into the ground. There are also times that you will need to have some extensions added.

Now you can put the cover back on the box, which will protect everything from the cold weather, and put the dirt back into the hole. You should make sure that the soil is packed around the box correctly and pat it down with your hands or shovel. You will usually have some soil left over so spread that around your garden.

You will need to test your new system to make sure that there are no problems. This will be the time when you find out if you have nipped the pipes accidentally. Turn on the water and check for any leaks that are occurring. If you do find a leak, you will need to call in a professional to deal with it because it may be more serious than you initially thought.

It is pretty easy to add valve boxes to your sprinkler system but the tricky bit is to make sure that it still works how it should. If you are in doubt or have a habit of getting something wrong, do not be afraid to call a professional in to do the job. You could find that it costs you less money in the long term.