HELP! sprinkler system

[the insurance guy]

I have installed a sprinkler system in my backyard and ran into some problems. I hooked up an anti-siphon valve in the front yard that goes to three valves. Two of the valves go to the backyard for the sprinkler system. I have them hooked up to a Rainbird electrical controller. The problem I have is with the second valve that is set up for the east portion of the sprinkler heads. With the second valve I have 11 sprinkler heads and with the third valve I have 10 sprinkler heads setup, which is on the west side of the backyard. Anyway, all was well for the first week and then my east set of sprinkler heads, which is on the second valve, only goes to about half of its "flow potential", it's as if those sprinkler heads are now not getting enough pressure for them to run at their greatest potential. Now the east side of the backyard get flooded near those heads because the water just shoots out about two feet. I checked the second valve, valve in question, and opened it up to see if there was any objects blocking the valve. The valve looked clean and good-to-go. I tested the sprinkler system again and the same problem occurred. I have pop-up sprinkler heads that do not go all the way up on this second valve. I decided, while they were running, to pull the pop-up head on one of the sprinklers connected to the second valve and they all then popped up and seem to work correctly. What is going on? Can anyone help me on this issue?

Thanks, prs1972

[Frogleg]

You might try this in alt.home.repair if you don't get suitable answers here.

[JANEW.]

[Pam - gardengal]

If you are using Rainbird components, they will troubleshoot the problem for you:

- gardengal

[FOW]

First of all , you have to many heads on one valve station. I don't put more than maybe 5-6 heads on one valve. Everything needs the same flow and pressure. I like to start by finding out my flow in Gallons per minute, from the source. Try 5 gallons per minute to start with. I like to use 3/4 in. Class 120 pipe to feed the system. Not Sch. 80 pipe. The class pipe is bigger on the inside for more flow. Flow is everything, then pressure.Hopefully you have at least 40 -60 PSI at the source.Buy a cheap pressure gauge at the plumbing supply store and check this first. Then get a five gallon bucket and see how much flow you have by filling the bucket . Time how much water goes in the bucket in 1 minute, from the source. Should be 4-5 gal. per min. Also try to turn down the flow from the valve at the stations that have too much water.There should be a flow control on the valve. Go to a Irrigation supply house and ask questions. They will help you design a proper sprinkler sys.. Sounds like you need more valves / stations. Look for names like Hunter or Irritrol or Hardy, or Richdel. These are good sprinkler parts. Try this place to see what I mean about all this.

luck

[HA HA Budys Here]

I think the problem is, the water floods out of these heads at the "seal", which doesn't actually seal until the head is at it's fullest extended position. There's not enough pressure to get all your heads to pop up and seal. Fewer heeads on a zone will solve the problem.