Irrigation system solenoid and valve locations?

[CybrSage]

I am pretty sure the solenoid has failed for Zone 4 in my irrigation system but am having a heck of a time finding where it is located. I have a Moonstone, a patio villa. Does anyone know what the container looks like that houses the solenoids and valves? The solenoids and valves are not exposed - that would have made it very easy.

Thanks for any help on locating these. I will have a wire finder in a week or two and can trace it out, but with the heat and lack of rain, my grass is dying (which is how I found out the zone has failed).


Additional Info:
I am pretty sure it is a solenoid, though it could be block in the line (I have an endoscope and will survey it tomorrow) since the entire zone is not working. To verify it was not the controller, I moved the wire for zone 4 to zone 1 (which is working) and nothing happened. Putting zone 1 back in place showed zone 1 working just fine.

[retiredguy123]

There should be a pretty large plastic box near the house in the front and close to the irrigation controller panel in the garage. There are control wires that run from the controller to the solenoid valve box.

[Altavia]

How old is the house?

For newer homes, they are in an irrigation box along the garage ".

Probably the other side of the wall from the low voltage box.

[CybrSage]

Thanks, I will look. About 2 years old, in the St Johns area.

[Altavia]

They can be manually activated.

[villagetinker]

If you are not the original owner, a previous owner may have buried the irrigation box under landscaping, I had this happen to me with popup drains. If this is the case, try using a screwdriver to tap through the landscaping and listen for a hollow sound, then start digging.

[CybrSage]

If you are not the original owner, a previous owner may have buried the irrigation box under landscaping, I had this happen to me with popup drains. If this is the case, try using a screwdriver to tap through the landscaping and listen for a hollow sound, then start digging.

Thanks, there are stones in the area where the box most likely is, I will dig there.

I will post my results tomorrow.

[Topspinmo]

If you are not the original owner, a previous owner may have buried the irrigation box under landscaping, I had this happen to me with popup drains. If this is the case, try using a screwdriver to tap through the landscaping and listen for a hollow sound, then start digging.


For us on potable water there backflow valve and plumbing right beside irrigation zone box.

[davephan]

A solenoid can fail open or closed, and that is the most common reason for a zone not working on your sprinkler system. Swapping the zones on the sprinkler controller can confirm that the sprinkler controller is or is not the problem. Tracing the wires can confirm if it’s the wires. Solenoid failures pretty rarely occur, but I’ve had a couple of solenoid failures on my large 24 to 64 zone systems that use multiple sprinkler controllers.

The valve boxes are usually green colored plastic on the tops and are round or rectangular in shape. There are wire tracing tools made, which I don’t own, that send a signal down the wire that can help you find the wire when it’s in close proximity. Most likely, the valve box is covered up by the grass that completely grew on top of the box, landscaping rocks, or mulch.

[lwmilo]

I am pretty sure the solenoid has failed for Zone 4 in my irrigation system but am having a heck of a time finding where it is located. I have a Moonstone, a patio villa. Does anyone know what the container looks like that houses the solenoids and valves? The solenoids and valves are not exposed - that would have made it very easy.

Thanks for any help on locating these. I will have a wire finder in a week or two and can trace it out, but with the heat and lack of rain, my grass is dying (which is how I found out the zone has failed).


Additional Info:
I am pretty sure it is a solenoid, though it could be block in the line (I have an endoscope and will survey it tomorrow) since the entire zone is not working. To verify it was not the controller, I moved the wire for zone 4 to zone 1 (which is working) and nothing happened. Putting zone 1 back in place showed zone 1 working just fine.

Do you have a zone 5 capability on ur controller? If you do, swing the # 4 zone wire to the # 5 slot and reprogram the controller for zone 5 application.If new z5 valve engages, then it’s ur controller. I know, u still need to locate ur zone valves!!!

[sowilts]

There should be a pretty large plastic box near the house in the front and close to the irrigation controller panel in the garage. There are control wires that run from the controller to the solenoid valve box.
The box for our home is on the left side by our neighbors home. About 10 feet away from the house. Linden

[Wondering]

I am pretty sure the solenoid has failed for Zone 4 in my irrigation system but am having a heck of a time finding where it is located. I have a Moonstone, a patio villa. Does anyone know what the container looks like that houses the solenoids and valves? The solenoids and valves are not exposed - that would have made it very easy.

Thanks for any help on locating these. I will have a wire finder in a week or two and can trace it out, but with the heat and lack of rain, my grass is dying (which is how I found out the zone has failed).


Additional Info:
I am pretty sure it is a solenoid, though it could be block in the line (I have an endoscope and will survey it tomorrow) since the entire zone is not working. To verify it was not the controller, I moved the wire for zone 4 to zone 1 (which is working) and nothing happened. Putting zone 1 back in place showed zone 1 working just fine.
Look for a pink box and cover on either side of your villa outside. lift the cover and the individual zone solenoids are there. I think you can buy replacements at ACE hardware.

[Lottoguy]

I had a bad solenoid too and it is actually a pretty fast fix once you get down into the box. In the meantime don't depend on your schedule that you have on your timer. Just manually run the system which will do the job. Wait once the sun sets the run each zone for at least 30 minutes.

[HomerSimpson]

I am pretty sure the solenoid has failed for Zone 4 in my irrigation system but am having a heck of a time finding where it is located. I have a Moonstone, a patio villa. Does anyone know what the container looks like that houses the solenoids and valves? The solenoids and valves are not exposed - that would have made it very easy.

Thanks for any help on locating these. I will have a wire finder in a week or two and can trace it out, but with the heat and lack of rain, my grass is dying (which is how I found out the zone has failed).


Additional Info:
I am pretty sure it is a solenoid, though it could be block in the line (I have an endoscope and will survey it tomorrow) since the entire zone is not working. To verify it was not the controller, I moved the wire for zone 4 to zone 1 (which is working) and nothing happened. Putting zone 1 back in place showed zone 1 working just fine.

I had a shorted solenoid once. I was able to use my ohmmeter to compare with other solenoids to find the problem. I had Joe Tucker replace it for me. It was in landscape rocks near corner of house.

[sknigh01]

Our solenoid box is located on the opposite side of the house from the location of the sprinkler irrigation controller. The top of the plastic box is painted a pink/violet color. It is in the ground right by the house. Our house is five years old in McClure.

[Topspinmo]

I suspect it the rubber diaphragm? It you rotate the solenoid counter clockwise the zone should turn on manually. This should let know if it’s the diaphragm (zone does not come on) or solenoid zone comes on. When I had zone failure with Hunter 100 globe valves it was rubber diaphragm plugged up/deteriorated and not working.


Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Industries-RTL1201332100-Irrigation-Replacement/dp/B00NO52CVI/ref=asc_df_B00NO52CVI/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693712983313&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4092948322010774375&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011519&hvtargid=pla-897954988968&mcid=e669f492d8723e95b1e862cba8092e9a&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIms6kqqH5hQMV8IBaBR0NTgcCEAQYASAB EgLBPPD_BwE&th=1)

The white plastic (in picture) if I remember broke/deteriorated not letting diaphragm to work. I have square valves with 4 screws holding body together. But, I live in older section and maybe using the larger 6 housing screws in newer areas?

[tashort]

I am pretty sure the solenoid has failed for Zone 4 in my irrigation system but am having a heck of a time finding where it is located. I have a Moonstone, a patio villa. Does anyone know what the container looks like that houses the solenoids and valves? The solenoids and valves are not exposed - that would have made it very easy.

Thanks for any help on locating these. I will have a wire finder in a week or two and can trace it out, but with the heat and lack of rain, my grass is dying (which is how I found out the zone has failed).


Additional Info:
I am pretty sure it is a solenoid, though it could be block in the line (I have an endoscope and will survey it tomorrow) since the entire zone is not working. To verify it was not the controller, I moved the wire for zone 4 to zone 1 (which is working) and nothing happened. Putting zone 1 back in place showed zone 1 working just fine.

the solenoids are located on the side of the house near your A/C unit. They are in a box in the ground with a cover over it. its easy to find this inground box as it is next to the house and near your HVAC outside unit

[retiredguy123]

the solenoids are located on the side of the house near your A/C unit. They are in a box in the ground with a cover over it. its easy to find this inground box as it is next to the house and near your HVAC outside unit
Mine is in the front yard, not near the HVAC unit.

[CybrSage]

Ugh, at this point I am just going to call for service. I dug out the stones and such and found the wire and piping. The wire leaves the house and turns towards the back of the house.

It leaves the stones and heads into grass. Florida grass is very strange, much harder to dig than northern grasses.

So far, I know it is 9 inches deep and about 22 inches from the house. Dug two more holes, one showed it still heading towards the back, the other I dug near the back and did not find the wire.

I have 20 some odd feet to search and my wire tracer is only good down to 3 inches. Manual digging in spots reqired.

If I get a sudden burst of strength coupled with desire, I will try another spot between them. Blah...why did they have to bury it out in the yard? They know it will need to be worked on.

Thanks for all the help!

[retiredguy123]

OP, most irrigation maintenance technicians use the solenoid valves every time they visit to operate the system manually. Obviously, you don't have a maintenance service. Normally, I wouldn't have a service either, but Massey checks my system quarterly for $40 per visit. When I have a broken sprinkler or a leak, they respond quickly and their cost is very nominal, or sometimes there is no charge. If you don't have a service, you may have a problem scheduling someone to come out, and they may charge you a few hundred dollars.

[Topspinmo]

Somebody they lives in patio villa should be able to tell where the irrigation zone box location? I would suspect they are in same locations if house there in around same age as you’re.

[Santiagogirl]

Use caution if you look inside the sprinkler valve box to attempt the work yourself. I took the lid off mine recently just to remove sand/silt that accumulates with time & startled the snake living there.

[CybrSage]

I will see if I can get a regular service setup for trsting and maintenance. Good idea.

My AC unit is on the opposite side of the house from where the irrigation control box is located.

Going to try two most spots then surrender.

[CybrSage]

the solenoids are located on the side of the house near your A/C unit. They are in a box in the ground with a cover over it. its easy to find this inground box as it is next to the house and near your HVAC outside unit

Turns out they are near the AC unit. The box has a purple lid, which was buried under dirt with stines on top. The box was filled with sand as well.

Easy replacement of the failed solenoid.

Thabks everyone for all the help!