Some valves have a separate lid gasket or o-ring that needs to be cleaned or replaced before being reassembled. If there are any o-rings, I strongly suggest you lubricate them before reassembling using K-Y Jelly or a similar product. Lubricating o-rings is optional, but recommended as it keeps them from crimping during assembly. If the o-ring crimps it will be ruined and will leak. K-Y Jelly is a water-based lubricant that you buy in the feminine hygiene department of a supermarket or drug store. (Don’t ask for it at the hardware store unless you want to give the employees a good laugh at your expense. Yes, I admit I fell for this back when I was first starting out in this business, it’s a favorite plumber gag to send the new guy out to buy the K-Y Jelly!) Do not use Vaseline, silicone, oil or any petroleum based products on the valve, they may damage the seals and also may clog the ports in the valve.
Archive for the ‘Irrigation’ Category
Clean and Reassemble the Valve
Monday, November 9th, 2009Rubber Diaphragm and Gasket
Monday, November 9th, 2009With the valve disassembled turn on the water to flush any remaining sand and crud from the pipes upstream of the valve. Turn it on full blast, and run it for a minute or two, you needs to get everything out of that pipe. Turn off the water, and dry yourself off. I know you don’t want to get wet, but don’t skip flushing the pipes and valve body, this is an important step!
Ports in Lid
Monday, November 2nd, 2009Remove the rubber diaphragm from the valve. Make sure it is not cracked or broken, if it is replace it. Some valve models also have a port in the diaphragm, check to see if there is one; if so make sure it is clean. On some valves the port in the diaphragm has a metal pin that runs through it, the purpose of the pin is to keep the port clean. The pin should slide freely in the port. The diaphragm in the photo below has a separate, removable seat gasket attached to the bottom of it with a screw. On many valves the rubber seat gasket and the diaphragm are one piece and the seat gasket is not removable. Make sure the seat gasket or diaphragm seat does not have anything stuck on it, like a grain of sand or twig. If the gasket surface is scratched or torn replace the gasket or diaphragm.
Examine the valve seat in the bottom of the valve body. The seat is the part of the valve body that the gasket presses against to stop the water flow through the valve. Make sure the seat is not scratched or pitted, if it is the valve will leak when closed. On some valves the seat is replaceable. On some brass valves the seat can be ground down with a special tool to remove pits and scratches. However, for most valves if the seat is scratched or pitted, the valve is not repairable and must be replaced.