06/17/2026
We get it, your sprinklers were working fine last year! Heck, they were working fine last night! But you woke up this morning to find a leak in your valve box. Well, there can be a few causes. Here are some of the most common causes we've seen out in the field:
1. Failing valves.
- Valves fail when dirt and debris get caught up from continuously running through your sprinkler system. Over time, this can wear down the seals inside the valve and even the plastic and hardware in the valves themselves.
2. A failing diaphragm.
- Diaphragms are kind of like little suction cups that open and close to allow water through to your sprinkler heads. Over time, they get dirty and can grow brittle with age, causing leaks.
3. Old connections.
- Believe it or not, nothing these days lasts forever. The same connection that held tight for the last 10 years might not be as secure now. Check the hose clamps connected to the poly pipe of the valve or the glue holding together your pvc.
4. Winter damage.
- True, we didn't have much of a winter this last year. Still, improperly winterized sprinklers can crack valves and the parts around them. Unfortunately, sometimes even properly winterized sprinkler systems suffer from winter damage.