Please don't ever take this video down. I have used your video for like 8 years straight. It looks just like mine and always help remember the right order to do things in. Thanks for another successful year of turning on my sprinklers.
I think it's time for me to say THANK YOU!!! You know, there are MANY "how to" videos for starting up one's irrigation system on RUclips .. but .. yours is the BEST!!! I use it every Spring, and have done so for a few years now. It's straight ahead with no rambling on, etc. It is also FLAWLESS in it's execution/steps. I have turned many of my friends on to it too. THANKS again!
This is the absolute best video on how to do this. You don’t have to hire a company to turn your system on because this video covers everything to a T. Excellent video, thank you!
Thank you for the video straight forward without all the unnecessary talking, my irrigation people is 2 weeks behind and my grass was starting to look dry. 👍🏿
i know you did this back in 2014 and fast forward 8 years, and here I am watching and thanking you for doing such a fabulous and deailed vide. Helped me lots.
Thanks man, I just moved into a house with this backflow. never had any backflow preventer in my life of 50 years and a dozen homes, so i was clueless. your video saved me an expensive trip out from a plumber, so thank you very much.
You just saved me! We are still under stay at home orders, so the irrigation company is a month late and I'm looking at a 10 day forecast with no rain in it. Thanks to you I was able to open the system myself and now I can water early tomorrow morning. Thanks so much for posting this video.
Seems a lot of people do the turning of the knobs in different order and steps but all the same processes. Gonna do this this week your video looks like my system hete in NEBRASKA. today is april 16th 2024. Thank you man. Preciate you
This was so helpful. Thanks it used to take me several hours to figure this out and get my sprinkler working. But you video made it so easy, spent 2 minutes
Thank you so much for this video! My step-dad passed away this fall, and this was one of the things he used to do. I felt so silly that I couldn't figure out how to turn the water on!
Excellent video explaining all the steps to turn on a sprinkler system. I used it last year and again this year (refresh my memory) and want to thank you for making it so easy.
Great video for us DIY'ers to refer to every spring! Thanks for clearly explaining the process. I agree with another commenter, DON'T EVER TAKE THE VIDEO DOWN! 😅
I'm a new home owner, and I had to get an inspection to the house before buying, the inspector could not find the house water valve or the sprinkler valve. After watching your video I then realized I've seen caps like that in my yard. Sure enough that was the two valves I was look for. Thank you!
Thanks for the clear video. One thing that I have run into is the cap at the top overflowing after I turn on the entrance valve outside. I read on a blog that you have to turn that valve more quickly because if you don't it won't create a seal.
Adam Collins This solution worked perfectly! It seems impossible that turning quickly could solve the issue of having too much water, but it did! Anybody who is experiencing the same issue: Try this method first. Thanks Adam!
@@JoshPullen You saved me so much!! I couldn't figure out why the water kept pouring out of the top. After I learned to turn it quickly (the sixth time!), voila! Problem fixed. THANK YOU!
Thank you very much for the step by step instruction. I just turned my sprinkler system on with your guide and worked as should. Again, thanks for the excellent video.
I just tried tried to help my mother in law turn their system on while her husband is away for a while. Noticed the valves are completely rusted into place and one even broke when I tried to fully close it before turning on the water. Called him up and asked what was going on. He said “you shouldn’t need to touch those values at all, just turn the water on…” guess that’s why they were completely rusted over and he had been running it with the valves half open for 8 years.
Sounds like something you'll appreciate so you're not 34 trying to figure out how the fuck your sprinkler system works since your lawn guy disappeared 🤔 🤣
Thank you so much Schepers! Past Winter I had a new guy to Winterize, Today when I turn the system on, water gushing out top of the 2 side thingy. The guy didn't shut off with screw driver! I thought my whole system was clogged!!!
Nice, short, to the point video. It worked for me. Only worry is when I let water in backflow device I heard little blast noise just once. I hope I didn't break any thing. System works fine though.
Question. When you open up the exit valve on the backflow without the zones open, or the drain valves open in the boxes, doesn't the water actually pressurize the air in the underground pipes as the water pushes against the air? I know that pressurized air would just then vent once the zones are turned on, but just curious if I understand what is happening. Actually wondering if that pressure hurts the sprinkler valves then and if it isn't better to have the drain valve cracked in the sprinkler box.
Any ideas. City water valve is on at street. Sprinkler system and house is only 2 years old. Valve in basement is on. The vaccume breaker has no water pressure or any sound of water coming through. Last year we had system blown out for winter and I’m not sure if they shut something off that I can’t figure out.
Hello, check that all the valves are fully on, at the street and on the vacuum breaker. Also, verify that there is no leak on the system or a faucet on the system that is open. Hope this helps
Does it matter if the petcock valves are turned clockwise or counter clockwise? Noticed you turned the top one clockwise and bottom one counterclockwise
I didn’t turn off the outside valves,is there going to be a problem? I basically didn’t pressurized the sprinkler system. Thank you for your help in advance.
Can someone help? When I follow step by step, as soon as I turn the water supply on, a jet of water shoots out the bottom of my back flow. What am I missing? 1:27
The water is on from water tank inside I went out and they went off when I set timer.. but one zone goes for a while then it quit and the next area went. But I have them all set for the same time.. so I went and turned it off at the panel. But now I l9om back yard is still going.. was turning the knobs 1/4 turn on wrong?Will it turn on without doing that?
Very short and helpful video. I am not sure whats wrong, but after step 3, the minute I open the final valve (to let water into the sprinkler pipes and heads), I can see water bubbling up from the base of the pipe thats feeding the heads. What did I do wrong?
This video is actually wrong. I just followed the steps. You’re supposed to have the valve on the sprinkler side of the assembly open, otherwise the pressure can crack the whole assembly. In my case I got a hole right through the metal, and the assembly was a year old. Seems like a lot of people just have low pressure.
Do you have to turn the blue butterfly valves perpendicular before you turn the main supply valve on from inside? Or can you turn them parallel to the pipe first then go inside and slowly pressurize the system?
Okay....so I have a question: I've watched several videos dealing with turning on an irrigation system (yours is by far the best, by the way). I can't find a vacuum breaker/backflow device setup like you (and many others) describe at :04. My system is 10 years old and all I ever do to turn the system on in the Spring is to slowly turn on the water in the basement....that's it. The company that installed my system winterizes it every Fall, and to the best of my knowledge, they only instructed me to turn the water on in the basement to start things in the Spring. From there, I test each of my 7 zones, like you describe. Could this vacuum breaker/backflow device be located somewhere else? In the ground, maybe? My way has worked just fine (except for when I first run each zone, there is sand in the lines that cause my well breaker to trip). I then reset it and resume testing my zones. The zones run great once the sand clears. Any tips/suggestions are appreciated!!
Hello, there are some systems out there that do not have a vacuum breakers. Most states have laws in place stating all irrigation systems are required to have some sort of back flow prevention in place to protect the municipal water system or protect the aquifer for all that drink from them. If you are getting sand in the system you may want to have a well company check that out as it could be the start of a bigger problem. Hope this helps!
Followed all steps but in my garage where the water runs to/from the water heater there are no labeled valves that run parallel or perpendicular to the pipes, just three solid red multi-turn valves. None of them have a plug or drip connection...two are right before and right after the regulator coming from the city but just before the water heater, and the other one is on a small branch-off just above the water heater that goes into the house. All three valves are still in the on position, so my guess is they were on all winter. Any ideas where else the sprinkler valve might be if not with the rest of the plumbing valves near the water heater in the garage??? I’ve walked the entire property. It just seems like it’s right in front of me but I don’t want to turn off something I shouldn’t!
Okay I love the video as it's quite informative, except for in my case, for one thing, I don't have a basement and other than the sprinkler system's valves, which I followed instructions from you, in garage main water valve for home and front outside faucet, I have NO clue what other valve you speak of for this process. I'd GREATLY appreciate any input from as whether it may be the valves in the garage. Thank you
Thank you for this video, even though I have a hunter system and had to turn the solenoids off too, I was much more confident in doing the rest with your instruction. Do you have a winterizing video? I’ll be back in the fall for that!
This is missing locking off the control valve box. I always forget that one. optional for some but you will have running water if you opened it for the winter
I noticed and one other video they turn the screws the same way to the right in this video the top screw his turn to the right and the bottom screwed to the left so that’s confusing and I’m not sure which one is correct
Hello, I would recommend getting it repaired. In many cases an irrigation company could take care of it or any plumbing company should be able to repair the leak.
Please don't ever take this video down. I have used your video for like 8 years straight. It looks just like mine and always help remember the right order to do things in. Thanks for another successful year of turning on my sprinklers.
I second this. One of the best annual reminder videos. Just started up my irrigation system and this video has been helpful for years.
Thirded ... first time following these instructions and they worked great, and the vacuum seal didn't blow as it has 2 out of the 3 past years.
I just bought a house and mine looks exactly like this! I am saving this video
My second year now referring to this video 👍🏼
3rd year in a row, total savings = roughly $150. Thank you!
You’d think after a couple times I’d remember all the steps each year….yet every spring I come back to this video. Thanks man!
I'm watching also so I can learn the steps.
Hahahaha! Me too!!! Every year I come back
Don't feel bad, I can never remember either!
I'm right there with you brother. Going 9 years strong 💪🏽😂😜
Thank you for putting this info into the world instead of trying to be a gatekeeper and protect it like others who are afraid they’ll lose business
I think it's time for me to say THANK YOU!!! You know, there are MANY "how to" videos for starting up one's irrigation system on RUclips .. but .. yours is the BEST!!! I use it every Spring, and have done so for a few years now. It's straight ahead with no rambling on, etc. It is also FLAWLESS in it's execution/steps. I have turned many of my friends on to it too. THANKS again!
Same
0 2:22
Z-,, Drx'😅
Same here 👍🏻
Best video on youtube for turning sprinklers on. Helpful every year cause I always forget how to do it
Thank you
I needed an “explain it to me like I’m 5” and you delivered. You are a champion sir, thank you.
This is the absolute best video on how to do this. You don’t have to hire a company to turn your system on because this video covers everything to a T. Excellent video, thank you!
Thank you for watching!
Thank you for the video straight forward without all the unnecessary talking, my irrigation people is 2 weeks behind and my grass was starting to look dry. 👍🏿
i know you did this back in 2014 and fast forward 8 years, and here I am watching and thanking you for doing such a fabulous and deailed vide. Helped me lots.
I use this video every spring! Thanks for saving me $50 every year. ;)
There are so many video's showing how to open, but this is the clearest and easiest to follow. Thank you!
I can’t believe I’ve been paying an irrigation company all these years only to find your video and see how easy this is. Thank you
Thanks man, I just moved into a house with this backflow. never had any backflow preventer in my life of 50 years and a dozen homes, so i was clueless. your video saved me an expensive trip out from a plumber, so thank you very much.
My exact comment. T.y..
Wonder how many people are like me and watch this every spring.
Yeah, we like to here that. Thank you
Literally every year!
You just saved me! We are still under stay at home orders, so the irrigation company is a month late and I'm looking at a 10 day forecast with no rain in it. Thanks to you I was able to open the system myself and now I can water early tomorrow morning. Thanks so much for posting this video.
Excellent!
Great step by step guide. I have this video saved and refer to it around this time every year.
Seems a lot of people do the turning of the knobs in different order and steps but all the same processes. Gonna do this this week your video looks like my system hete in NEBRASKA. today is april 16th 2024. Thank you man. Preciate you
I’m in Nebraska and just did the same thing 😂
I literally watch this each spring! Thank you!
This video works for me every year. Several others are confusing. Thank you!
Thanks for watching
This was so helpful. Thanks it used to take me several hours to figure this out and get my sprinkler working. But you video made it so easy, spent 2 minutes
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing this clear video. I know it is a simple process but it is nice to have a refresher every year!
Thank you for watching!
Thanks for giving us the basic facts without drawing it out too long. Just the info I needed, and very clear.
Thank you so much for this video! My step-dad passed away this fall, and this was one of the things he used to do. I felt so silly that I couldn't figure out how to turn the water on!
Thank you for watching!
Thank you very much for posting such a good video. Clear, short and to the point.
Thank you for watching!
I watch this annually. Thank you!
Excellent video explaining all the steps to turn on a sprinkler system. I used it last year and again this year (refresh my memory) and want to thank you for making it so easy.
Back for my annual refresher! Great video and easy to follow.
I regret I have but one thumbs up to give to this video. Many thanks!
Great video for us DIY'ers to refer to every spring! Thanks for clearly explaining the process. I agree with another commenter, DON'T EVER TAKE THE VIDEO DOWN! 😅
Thank you for watching!
I'm a new home owner, and I had to get an inspection to the house before buying, the inspector could not find the house water valve or the sprinkler valve. After watching your video I then realized I've seen caps like that in my yard. Sure enough that was the two valves I was look for. Thank you!
This video showed me exactly what to do! So thankful for it!
@@SylviaHumke thank you for watching!
Thank you for the video. I need to watch other video to put together able to turn on my sprinkler.👍👍👍
Every year during spring time I come here to watch the instructions.
Good deal
Was refreshing myself on the process, and your video was step by step perfect! Love it!
thanks a lot!! i use this video every year to make sure i am doing it right :-).
I use this video every spring.. Thanks again!
Thanks for the straight forward no fluff guide!
thanks. This video mimicked my setup and worked. Very much appreciated.
Best video! Thank you so much for being so clear and walking through every part.
You are awesome. Thank you! I was able to turn our sprinkles on.
Thank you it is so useful for people like me who never done this before
About to save me 80 bucks. Thanks dude. 🎉
Thanks for the clear video. One thing that I have run into is the cap at the top overflowing after I turn on the entrance valve outside. I read on a blog that you have to turn that valve more quickly because if you don't it won't create a seal.
Adam Collins This solution worked perfectly! It seems impossible that turning quickly could solve the issue of having too much water, but it did! Anybody who is experiencing the same issue: Try this method first.
Thanks Adam!
@@JoshPullen You saved me so much!! I couldn't figure out why the water kept pouring out of the top. After I learned to turn it quickly (the sixth time!), voila! Problem fixed. THANK YOU!
@@7047rain It's very counter-intuituve. Glad it worked out for you. :)
Thanks a lot @ Adam and Josh. very helpful
I did it!, Thank you so much for saving me $. It was very easy really. I am sure to use this video next spring
Clear, articulated, right to the point, very useful.
Thanks! Great job- easy to follow. As a new cold weather home owner watching this saved me $.
Thank you very much for the step by step instruction. I just turned my sprinkler system on with your guide and worked as should.
Again, thanks for the excellent video.
Thanks man - was able to successfully turn the sprinklers following your direction
Glad it helped
Excellent presentation . Well thought out , to the point and the best I've seen . Thank you . I'll recommend this video .
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching!
Man came in clutch with this tutorial
Year 7. Never take it down!
Year 5
Year 2!
Thanks you for a short and sweet tutorial!! Just what I was looking for!! Your the best!!!
So glad!
I thought RUclips required people to ramble for 10 minutes before getting to the point...Nice video.
I just tried tried to help my mother in law turn their system on while her husband is away for a while. Noticed the valves are completely rusted into place and one even broke when I tried to fully close it before turning on the water. Called him up and asked what was going on. He said “you shouldn’t need to touch those values at all, just turn the water on…” guess that’s why they were completely rusted over and he had been running it with the valves half open for 8 years.
Thanks!! Just got my system up and running!
Thank you for such a clear step by step. Saved me a service call!
Man I'm just 16 yr old tryna figure this out cause my mom making me water the grass with the hose
Wife has been on my tail for a week. Thanks for saving me.
Sounds like something you'll appreciate so you're not 34 trying to figure out how the fuck your sprinkler system works since your lawn guy disappeared 🤔 🤣
😂
@@RedRidingHood-s Water will be worth more than gold when he’s 34. Roving gangs of water thieves will roam the barren wasteland of America
Hahahaha
Thank you so much Schepers! Past Winter I had a new guy to Winterize, Today when I turn the system on, water gushing out top of the 2 side thingy. The guy didn't shut off with screw driver! I thought my whole system was clogged!!!
Nice, short, to the point video. It worked for me. Only worry is when I let water in backflow device I heard little blast noise just once. I hope I didn't break any thing. System works fine though.
I just used it for the 6th or 7th year in a row. Totally awesome!
Thank you for watching!
Thank you! This was to the point and easy to follow.
Question. When you open up the exit valve on the backflow without the zones open, or the drain valves open in the boxes, doesn't the water actually pressurize the air in the underground pipes as the water pushes against the air? I know that pressurized air would just then vent once the zones are turned on, but just curious if I understand what is happening. Actually wondering if that pressure hurts the sprinkler valves then and if it isn't better to have the drain valve cracked in the sprinkler box.
Any ideas. City water valve is on at street. Sprinkler system and house is only 2 years old. Valve in basement is on. The vaccume breaker has no water pressure or any sound of water coming through. Last year we had system blown out for winter and I’m not sure if they shut something off that I can’t figure out.
Hello, check that all the valves are fully on, at the street and on the vacuum breaker. Also, verify that there is no leak on the system or a faucet on the system that is open. Hope this helps
in most cases... but I have 4 on my vacuum breaker. do i have to move all 4 to the same position?
Does it matter if the petcock valves are turned clockwise or counter clockwise? Noticed you turned the top one clockwise and bottom one counterclockwise
No the peacocks can go either way, as long as they are closed.
Best how video on you tube!
I didn’t turn off the outside valves,is there going to be a problem? I basically didn’t pressurized the sprinkler system. Thank you for your help in advance.
No not necessarily, close the valves and start the process over again. Thank you
Can someone help? When I follow step by step, as soon as I turn the water supply on, a jet of water shoots out the bottom of my back flow. What am I missing? 1:27
Thanks again so much....you have helped me every year, perfect vid to get my sprinklers up each year.
The water is on from water tank inside I went out and they went off when I set timer.. but one zone goes for a while then it quit and the next area went. But I have them all set for the same time.. so I went and turned it off at the panel. But now I l9om back yard is still going.. was turning the knobs 1/4 turn on wrong?Will it turn on without doing that?
I would recommend contacting a professional irrigation contractor and schedule a service call.
Year 3 of using this same video to turn on my system, I’ll check back in every year until I can remember it.
Thank you for watching!
@@SchepersLawnSprinklingSystems sure thing, I’ll be back next year!
Thanks again, see you next year ✌️
You bet!
Thank you. This is extremely helpful!
Very short and helpful video. I am not sure whats wrong, but after step 3, the minute I open the final valve (to let water into the sprinkler pipes and heads), I can see water bubbling up from the base of the pipe thats feeding the heads. What did I do wrong?
This video is actually wrong. I just followed the steps. You’re supposed to have the valve on the sprinkler side of the assembly open, otherwise the pressure can crack the whole assembly. In my case I got a hole right through the metal, and the assembly was a year old. Seems like a lot of people just have low pressure.
Do you have to turn the blue butterfly valves perpendicular before you turn the main supply valve on from inside? Or can you turn them parallel to the pipe first then go inside and slowly pressurize the system?
Hello, I would recommend that so you have have the back flow device seal before allowing water to the irrigation system. Hope this helps
Thanks. This is a great help!
Okay....so I have a question: I've watched several videos dealing with turning on an irrigation system (yours is by far the best, by the way). I can't find a vacuum breaker/backflow device setup like you (and many others) describe at :04. My system is 10 years old and all I ever do to turn the system on in the Spring is to slowly turn on the water in the basement....that's it. The company that installed my system winterizes it every Fall, and to the best of my knowledge, they only instructed me to turn the water on in the basement to start things in the Spring. From there, I test each of my 7 zones, like you describe. Could this vacuum breaker/backflow device be located somewhere else? In the ground, maybe? My way has worked just fine (except for when I first run each zone, there is sand in the lines that cause my well breaker to trip). I then reset it and resume testing my zones. The zones run great once the sand clears. Any tips/suggestions are appreciated!!
Hello, there are some systems out there that do not have a vacuum breakers. Most states have laws in place stating all irrigation systems are required to have some sort of back flow prevention in place to protect the municipal water system or protect the aquifer for all that drink from them. If you are getting sand in the system you may want to have a well company check that out as it could be the start of a bigger problem. Hope this helps!
Is it normal for a little water to pop out of the vacuum breaker in Step 3?
Yeah as the poppet and bonnet seal, thank you for watching!
@@SchepersLawnSprinklingSystems Oh good! There was a loud pop that scared me too…
This was so helpful!
Why did you turn one of the screws clockwise and the other counterclockwise?
Hello, you can go either way, they are like ball valves and can go clockwise or counter clockwise. Hope this helps!
@@SchepersLawnSprinklingSystems I figured that out eventually 🙂 Thanks!
Followed all steps but in my garage where the water runs to/from the water heater there are no labeled valves that run parallel or perpendicular to the pipes, just three solid red multi-turn valves. None of them have a plug or drip connection...two are right before and right after the regulator coming from the city but just before the water heater, and the other one is on a small branch-off just above the water heater that goes into the house. All three valves are still in the on position, so my guess is they were on all winter.
Any ideas where else the sprinkler valve might be if not with the rest of the plumbing valves near the water heater in the garage??? I’ve walked the entire property. It just seems like it’s right in front of me but I don’t want to turn off something I shouldn’t!
Thank you so much for this video! You just saved me $75!!
Great, clear video. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Okay I love the video as it's quite informative, except for in my case, for one thing, I don't have a basement and other than the sprinkler system's valves, which I followed instructions from you, in garage main water valve for home and front outside faucet, I have NO clue what other valve you speak of for this process. I'd GREATLY appreciate any input from as whether it may be the valves in the garage. Thank you
Thank you for this video, even though I have a hunter system and had to turn the solenoids off too, I was much more confident in doing the rest with your instruction. Do you have a winterizing video? I’ll be back in the fall for that!
We do, thank you
This fellow west-michigander thanks you.
This is missing locking off the control valve box. I always forget that one. optional for some but you will have running water if you opened it for the winter
Thank you. No service call this year!
Excellent video! Thank you perfect
Great video. New homeowner here trying to figure the sprinklers out , are these steps pretty universal to most home sprinkler systems?
Your the real MVP
Do I need to do anything with the solenoid valve??
Hello, typically at a turn on you don’t have to do anything to the solenoid valves other than turn water on to them.
Thank you,got mine done with no issues!
Thank you, please subscribe
Thanks, you just saved me $65!
I noticed and one other video they turn the screws the same way to the right in this video the top screw his turn to the right and the bottom screwed to the left so that’s confusing and I’m not sure which one is correct
Hello, it doesn’t matter, they go both ways.
@@SchepersLawnSprinklingSystems ok ty! I’m like uh wait which way! Gonna try it myself this year. I’m a bit nervous can you tell? Trying to save $40😂
@@SchepersLawnSprinklingSystems ok ty!
Thank you so much, this video helped out a lot
after following exactly your instruction, when I open the bottom value, the water came out flooding the box. Not sure what went wrong.
I did all the same and after the last step Outdoors, i see water going to my control valve box... anything I can do for that?
Thanks. Use this video every season. What if there’s a slow drip from the pipe outside? Under the entrance side of the breaker?
Hello, I would recommend getting it repaired. In many cases an irrigation company could take care of it or any plumbing company should be able to repair the leak.