How To Install Irrigation Sprinkler Valve Boxes

How To Install Irrigation Sprinkler Valve Boxes. Tips from my experience installing 2 irrigation systems and repairing old broken valves.
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[@gregfaris6959]

Spent today digging out a box installed exactly this way probably ten years ago. The digging was VERY tough because of the pebbles that had migrated throughout the entire lawn area, doing everything except their intended purpose of keeping the box clean and neat. The latter was so full of hard-caked dirt the valves were completely buried and not even visible when the lid was initially opened. My impression is this method is a short-term solution that looks great the day it is installed, but doesn’t hold up over time, and will not leave you with visible and practical access to the valves when maintenance becomes necessary.

[@DIYAroundTheHome]

Wonder if the soil type or pebble size played a role in the problem. I've installed several valve boxes this way in the last 16 years (in Utah and Arizona) and haven't had any issues getting to the valves for servicing.

[@gregfaris6959]

@@DIYAroundTheHome Thanks for the reply. This was Central Florida, so not a location I had expected to be very dynamic in terms of soil shift. My original intention was to reposition and reinstall the box exactly as you describe (which looks great by the way) but now I'm having second thoughts...

[@michelleduncan9965]

We are thankful to have found this video. A landscape company (using that term VERY loosely), we hired to do a revision of an area - made a mess of several things, including re-setting our sprinkler box. That was "try #1." After their "work," the sprinkler box in a rock bed sank so badly that we feared we had a leak. An very, very rude, sloppy, corner-cutting, rush-through-the-job guy was sent out to check for, & repair any leak(s), & re-set the sprinkler box properly. That was "try #2." Once he said there was no leak (if that's even true) & proceeded to insult us, we told him to STOP & NOT to re-spread the rock. We needed to wait a few days to see if the box would sink again. The guy totally defied & agued with us, putting the fabric back, & all rocks back around the SHODDILY PLACED below-the-level-of-the-rock, & clearly UN-LEVEL sprinkler box. We were disgusted beyond words. As soon as he left, we had to start un-doing the mess the guy had made. We're still digging out all the rock. We'll have to clean off all the dirt & mud he got in the new rocks - doing the such a sloppily & rushed "repair." Then, we'll have to dig out all that dirt YET AGAIN (3rd time) & set the sprinkler box CORRECTLY, as he should have done. This will be "try #3." I pray this will be the last time we have to deal with this mess. I hope this video will help us do the job - the WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE. So sad that workers: 1-DON'T KNOW how to do a job correctly from the start, &/or 2-just DON'T CARE.

[@crazyblah867]

Thanks for the valuable information. I just replaced all my valves because they were full of dirt and one of them stopped closing properly (dirt got into it). Rocks will def help with keeping the dirt out.

[@mikep1176]

You're actually supposed to cut the box out fit around the pipes and then lower the box down to be level with the ground

[@DIYAroundTheHome]

That's another way to do it for sure

[@RhiRhiRhianna]

Wow! thank you for this video. I really thought the pipes are in the box lol but now I know i think it will be easy to remove the box now without digging out the pipes.

[@DIYAroundTheHome]

That is how they should be set up in my opinion, doesn't mean yours won't be

[@allynsadventure998]

Great tips! I am working on my boxes right now. This information will be helpful.

[@asleepart11_16]

Any special tips to dig around box in this dry, rocky Arizona soil?

[@DIYAroundTheHome]

Rocks, pebbles, and other hard things won't make it easy if they're mixed among the dirt. I'd wet the area and break it up and remove the rocks so it's just dirt. More work now but easier down the line.

[@tmaddrummer]

Thanks and Blessings!

[@JeromeWard-p3o]

Very helpful. Do you need to put insulation wrap around the supply lines above ground level in Tucson or Phoenix?

[@DIYAroundTheHome]

Don't need to but probably wouldn't hurt

[@bobmariano3731]

👍⚾️

[@asleepart11_16]

Thanks!

[@asleepart11_16]

Thanks for reply. I found my pressure regulator leaking from my drip valve. Figured I have to dig up entire box to find exact leak and fix. First time irrigation DYIer. Wish me luck. Lol.

[@DIYAroundTheHome]

Good luck!

[@stemmentor9700]

I wish I had kept an eye on the guy who put my system in. I couldn’t due to health and the valve covers (round) top elevation was about 3-4” below everything around it. I didn’t see them bury the valves but later the lack of gravel combined with a low lying area around 6 zone valves left free standing water. Have it mostly exposed now. Hurricane nicely filled hole with water but plan on taking all the mud and silt from around and under the boxes and put pea gravel and top off with drainage gravel. Just need to determine the easiest way to raise them valve covers. “Stack them” or make something work ( plastic bins, large diameter PVC cut around base?? A 4K job and it was screwed up from day 1. Could never get the company to return calls or come back out. Any ideas on raising 9-10” round valve boxes up about 6”. I’m all ears. I’m ¯＼◔ー◔/¯ at laying brick around to build up.

[@DIYAroundTheHome]

I think the large diameter PVC around the base could work, get a mallet... soften up the soil... and hammer them in