1-2 gpm zone leak (when turned on), cant find.

[RhettMan]

Cant find a leak...

How do i find it?

Large low laying deck, underside too low for crawl.

A drain tile will flow the leak after a few minutes of run.
Cant hear the sounds of flowing water from anywhere, Execpt the drain tile exit.

Supposedly the drain tile is under the house...

House addition, but reportedly piped around after construction.

stumped....

[Mike Leary]

Could there be zone valve(s) under the deck? We've sure been there.

[irritation]

I assume it's a main leak. Put a good quality pressure gage on the main and shut off the water. Even a drip will cause it to drop in no time. If it drops cap off the main before the deck and test again. If good reroute main around deck.

[Mike Leary]

Fire the zones, locate the valves, if you're missing some, guess where they'll be? Then drag out the 521 and trace the wires. I still think it's a rock in the valve.

[1idejim]

You isolate - test - eleminate. Turn the system off for a day or 2 and listen for the leak at the same place you are hearing it now. If you hear the noise look toward leaking main or other source.

If you don't have a MV and the sound of water is not present when the system is off and the meter is still or pressure stays up (well doesn't cycle) - eleminate a leaking main line -

With a MV you can listen to the valve with a sounding stick or piece of pipe. No noise - eleminate MV - Listen to all of the valves, no noise or meter movement/cycling - eleminate valves -

Plug or cap all but 1 head on the suspect zone. Attach a pressure gauge at the remaining head POC. Activate the valve watch for pressure drop while listening to the valve. If the valve is silent and the pressure doesn't bounce around - eleminate the lateral -
There are many places where a leak could be but if its in the irrigation system, thats where i would start.
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[RhettMan]

When controller off, no flow from drain tile...
when controller on, MV wire in, zone wire out, no flow
when controller on, MV wire in, zone wire in, flow from tile.

I outfitted all sprays nozzles on the zone with Closed VAN's to see if the meter would stop completely, sure enough, still rolling a few gpm's worth when the zone valve is wired in.

Perhaps worth noting, the heads and valves in question are on opposite sides of the house. the outlet from the zone valves is pointing staight toward the new house addition which now divides the yard, (or valve and heads).

___ Thanks guys

P.S. what are my options on tracking the lateral line by cutting into it near the located valve, and attaching a (for lack of the correct term, "chatterbox", "sound-maker", "water pipe tracker".

I suppose a could run a wire down the lateral and track it with a 521, seems that might be foiled by a 90 , etc.

anyway, thanks again yall! (you fixed the hammer issue btw

[txirrigation]

Originally Posted by RhettMan

When controller off, no flow from drain tile...
when controller on, MV wire in, zone wire out, no flow
when controller on, MV wire in, zone wire in, flow from tile.

I outfitted all sprays nozzles on the zone with Closed VAN's to see if the meter would stop completely, sure enough, still rolling a few gpm's worth when the zone valve is wired in.

Perhaps worth noting, the heads and valves in question are on opposite sides of the house. the outlet from the zone valves is pointing staight toward the new house addition which now divides the yard, (or valve and heads).

___ Thanks guys

P.S. what are my options on tracking the lateral line by cutting into it near the located valve, and attaching a (for lack of the correct term, "chatterbox", "sound-maker", "water pipe tracker".

I suppose a could run a wire down the lateral and track it with a 521, seems that might be foiled by a 90 , etc.

anyway, thanks again yall! (you fixed the hammer issue btw

If I understand your problem right, you almost had it with the closed VANS.

Close all the VANS and set the zone for 15-20 min, then go find the wet spot. If you do not find a wet spot, put more time on the zone and wait.

[mitchgo]

Originally Posted by txirrigation

If I understand your problem right, you almost had it with the closed VANS.

Close all the VANS and set the zone for 15-20 min, then go find the wet spot. If you do not find a wet spot, put more time on the zone and wait.

Tx usually you have more sound advice. I don't think you understand his problem correctly .

[txirrigation]

Originally Posted by mitchgo

Tx usually you have more sound advice. I don't think you understand his problem correctly .

I do not think I understand the problem either...

[1idejim]

Originally Posted by RhettMan

When controller off, no flow from drain tile...
when controller on, MV wire in, zone wire out, no flow
when controller on, MV wire in, zone wire in, flow from tile.

I outfitted all sprays nozzles on the zone with Closed VAN's to see if the meter would stop completely, sure enough, still rolling a few gpm's worth when the zone valve is wired in.

Perhaps worth noting, the heads and valves in question are on opposite sides of the house. the outlet from the zone valves is pointing staight toward the new house addition which now divides the yard, (or valve and heads).

___ Thanks guys

P.S. what are my options on tracking the lateral line by cutting into it near the located valve, and attaching a (for lack of the correct term, "chatterbox", "sound-maker", "water pipe tracker".

I suppose a could run a wire down the lateral and track it with a 521, seems that might be foiled by a 90 , etc.

anyway, thanks again yall! (you fixed the hammer issue btw

Close it off again and induce air. Make a .25 npt adapter and start with low pressure. Increase pressure as needed. Sometimes a mixture of air and water has to be used but air will surface when water won't.

Don't get in too much of a hurry to cut or dig, you'll end up with a more harmonious outcome
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