How To Fix Leaking Sprinkler Indexing Valve FAST DIY - Avoid Plumber
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- In this How To Fix Leaking Sprinkler Indexing Valve video we show you how to repair the leak that is coming from your sprinkler’s indexing valve. There are different places where an index valve can leak. A leak can come from the top of your indexing valve, or perhaps there is something wrong with the indexing disc inside your indexing valve. But in this case here the indexing valve had a very tiny crack along the round corner of its housing. Although the eye can barely see this small crack this was the source of a major leak at 60 PSI water pressure. Therefore many cities actually frown down on indexing valves and some cities may not allow you to install an indexing valve in a new installation anymore due to their history of leaking in wasting water. Some city inspectors may also require you to install a backflow preventer to prevent any issues or contamination from your sprinkler water from getting back into the city supply of fresh water.
Jeff, I would always go with your 10 minute videos over 2 minute videos from big box stores and manufacturers. It is RARELY as simple as they present. It is the "what to do when you have a problem" that is most helpful, for instance using the C clamp
Yes, great minds think alike!
Thank you so much for this simple tutorial. I was able to take the part to the shop and replace it before my husband even got home. success!!!
These types of videos are where you are in your element Jeff! But I cry foul of your use of a Milwaukee bit holder in that DCD 791? 😳🤔🤣😁 Hah! @ the two minute video comments.
Always a Debbie Downer or two in the crowd! There are those of us that appreciate your content and commitment. I really like your background music, and the fact it doesn’t compete with your narrative. Thanks. Stay safe and Healthy! 👍😁🇺🇸
Thanks George! Yes we are at my friend's house, those are all his tools, he has an eclectic mix of tools and bits. You should see his garage through, he's an expert wood worker and has DewAlt and delta tools, 3 stand mounted band saws, it's quite a site to see.
Thank you so much for uploading such a informative video i was about to pay 300 dollar just to fix this leak
Jeff, You provide such good videos for the homeowner
Thanks Jay, glad you liked it!
Hey Jeff, FYI, for the last 3 or 4 days I haven't been getting the notifications for your videos. I'm subscribed and have it set to notifications. Really enjoy your videos, and have missed a few recently. Thanks Jeff!!!
I have heard this from others, I will check with UA-cam
@@jeffostroff i have the same issue
Same here Jeff. UA-cam what is going on?
Hi Ted! Did you recently upgrade your OS? I upgraded my IOS, and now UA-cam is real flaky at times, and I receive Zero notifications. After spending way too much time in settings, and such, I gave up. Too many projects and clients that take priority. I have to ‘self notify!’ 😳😲🙄😁😁😂🤣 Peace
Hey Jeff, wow, three bandsaws? Eclectic mix, Ha Ha sounds a little like moi. 😁
Great giveaway last night! I’m sorry I was late to the party. I enjoy your content, and I appreciate your generosity and giving heart! And appreciate your replies. It seems I have been immersed lately in plumbing repairs and tasks, myself, no pun intended. 😬 Stay safe and Healthy! 👍😁🇺🇸
Glad you were able to show up George!
Hey Jeff! This video reminds me those days I was fixing my sprinkler system cause whoever put them on make a big mess mixing 3/8" with 1/2" ,and on many connections I found 5 diferen things like elbows , T connections and a bunch of stuff just to connect 2 pipes
And put them dipper cause they were sticking out at least 3 " out of the grass and it was a pain to mow the grass cause I had to cut around each sprinkler before mowing.
And the worst part is tha I have to dig 8" for all of them and I have 28 sprinklers🥵
Yup, always fun cleaning up the mess after someone else's mistakes.
Wow Sergio! It makes ya wonder what some people are thinking? Peace
Haha so the guy that has every tool. A spray cooling fan for gods sake. Power PVC cutter. This man my idol doesn’t have a large set of channel locks. Really! A C clamp. Jeff no worries I’m sending you a large channel lock from harbor freight. My treat.
LOL, we did this at my friend's house with all his tools. Once in 10 years we needed a larger than large Bertha size Channelocks.
Hi loved this video. The coupling though it says hand tighten only doesn’t want to loosen. I’m using a C clamp but it won’t budge. What do you recommend I use to loosen before continuing…I don’t want to use too much force and break the plastic
Use some long pipe or some type of long lever arm for leverage. If that fails, you might have to cut the pipe and cement on new parts.
Buy yourself a pair of Knipex wrench pliers ..........awesome tool .great video thanks
Good idea! But dang we only did this repair once in 20 years!
Jeff,I havethe same exact FIMCO Green Valve that you are working on in this video (house is 1978). My problem is the small cap on top is leaking. I removed the small leaking top cap, cleaned it up and re-installed but its still lesking although not as much. Am I not torqing it enough, there is no seal or gasket that I see. Can you advise on what I can do to resolve this. Thanks
Great video. I’ll probably replace the top of mine as well. I think I have 1.5 inch pipes coming out the bottom. If I just replace the top can I buy the 1inch one? I can’t find the 1.5 inch model locally.
Everything has to match the size of the pipes it connects to, as longs as it matches, you are ok
On the mid range you are proudly looking at about with Rain Bird 125$ a zone to change over to electric valves , Including the timer and don't forget now you have to add a pump start...
Well worth the change once it is done in the versatility that you will have and control over your zones
Great tip on the clamp. You mentioned possible leak reasons could also be a leaking gasket or did you mean the O ring which you showed. Did a new gasket come standard with the cap? It would have been great to show that as well.
I beleive when he ordered the cap the gasket came with it
My indexing valve is a K Rain Hydrotek 4000 and is most likely the original probably 20+ yrs old and is now spraying water, what looks like from the bottom of the cap, Should it be replaced because of its age?
Jody it could be the age, or maybe you just need a new gasket. In my opinion, this is a great time to switch from the indexing valve to 4 or 6 separate valves, so you can start using the smart sprinklers, that each of these solenoids can be controlled by one of 8 zones on your new smart sprinkler. We have a video on installing the Rachio 3 smart wifi sprinkler, goes online through accuweather and decides to do a rain skip or not base don rain in your area. Best sprinkler system ever. I never looked back.
Nice job, are diaphragm's costly, just wondered why you didn't replace it when you had it all apart?
Large disks like this one are about $28. It looked in great shape so my friend did not want to replace it.
Love the video ..
So the spare parts you can buy them at any lowes or home depot?
Yes our Home Depot carries these indexer valve caps but they only carry the six port minis or the four port , so in order to get the standard 8 port output we had to go to Amazon to get it I don't know why Home Depot does not carry an 8 zone
Awesome 👍
Thanks 🤗
Hi Jeff 😷👍
Hi Ernesto, thanks for watching tonight!
What is the part number or at least where can you find just he valve top? Details pls.
Hi Jeff,
Great video! How much would it cost to convert to individual solenoids? (4 zones)
Where are you located?
Plumber might charge $200-$300. the parts are cheap you can do it yourself, but check with your city to see if they require a backflow preventer
@@jeffostroff thank you!
@@jeffostroff If its pulling from a well, does it still need a backflow preventer
Jeff u need new channel locks and bigger ones.
That's my friend. I have newer real Channelocks, but not big enough to loosen that fitting, I normally never need to go that large.
Thank You
I just replaced the whole valve 😅 but it had a much larger crack than that.
Wat do i do if water is leaking from the part you turn to open & close the water flow.
how old was the old indexing valve?
Unknown house is from 1997
@@jeffostroff it's probably original
I was thinking fix the leak. If you go buying parts, a whole valve is almost as much. That green one is super-old btw, they haven't made those in many, many years.
Yes and this should be changed from an indexing valve eventually
Hello Jeff
Thanks for joining us in the live chat tongiht!
really need to know how to replace the whole unit to the existing pvc??
I just replaced my indexing valve with a brand new unit and replumbed from the pump to the valves. It leaks from under 2 screw adjacent and after I manually tightened the screws all the way around it still dribbles. Anyone have suggestions beside Water Weld?
You should not need to add anything to something to make it work. Sounds like you got a bad gasket seal. Call the manufacturer ask them what needs to be done, they might send you a new unit
I didn’t know they even sold parts for these.
There are parts for everything
👍👍👍
Thanks bro!
Bro. You could have made this video in "1" minute!
No, people need to see the steps
Thats an old Fimco .Thats a complete false hood that index valves are inefficient, It all depends on the application from home to home. Over all index vales with a machinal timer are quite simple and have far less problems than electric valves .The digital timers are very susceptible to power surges near by lighting strikes if the valves are spread through the property and one or more fail or a wire is cut it can take some time just to locate the bad valve or cut wire.Dude get yourself a pair off large water hose pliers next time 😁😁
Lol that is a falsehood, because he we are doing a repair on an index involved. At my own house my electric I've been working without fail since 1993 is 1093 when the house was built
This guy is not even a professional It doesn't tell you where to buy the product Using a clamp
Holy cow you really are a drama queen to whine about something like that. You can buy a C clamp in any hardware store do I need to tell you where to buy a bolt and a nut as well? Do I need to tell you where to buy the gas to get over to the hardware store? Sounds to me like you're one of those people that just really wants to gripe about something you're a negative Nelly aren't you?