Changing a solenoid valve on my home sprinkler system.?

Question

My sprinkler timer box gave me an error mesage that said I had a faulty solenoid valve on station #2. So I replaced the valve with a new solenoid, but when I turn the water on the station comes on and will not turn off. The only way to stop the station with the replaced valve from running is to turn off the water. Does any one know what would cause this problem and how I can correct it?

Answer 1

The solenoid only controls a small magnetic "plug" which blocks the water from coming through the rest of the valve. It sounds like the plug isn't seating properly and that could be due to the valve itself.

Sometimes the easiest thing to do is to replace the entire valve, it's an easy procedure. Fiddling around with a faulty valve is just not worth the effort, I've got a huge sprinkling system with multiple valves and always have a couple of replacement valves handy, along with the proper connectors.

Before doing this though, check your control box to be sure that your settings are accurate.

Answer 2

when you changed the solenoid the plunger may have come out making the valve stay open , or it just may be loose.

if thats not it then the diaphram is stuck open and needs replaced, when you open the valve open up the water some to clean out whatever is holding the valve open.

did you cut out the entire valve and plumb in a new one?

if so you may have put it in backwards.

you must check to see which way the water flow is going to be sure and usually the solenoid faces the direction the flow is going to. if you put it in backwards then you basically just made it mainline and need to cut it out again and put it in properly.

Answer 3

A wiring problem like an intermiten short could be a cause. Also you may have to re-set the control box to all zones. Wires connected in right order?