Flow Control Valves and Why You Need Them

Do you need to spend extra money on flow control valves? Depending on the type of emitters that make up your irrigation system, they may be a necessity. Without flow control valves, zones with pop-up spray heads can experience uneven water pressure, resulting in inconsistent spray patterns or insufficient coverage. Below, we’ll review the importance of flow regulating valves and what kinds of systems need them most.

What Is a Flow Control Valve?

Not every spigot releases water at the same rate. However, with a flow control valve, you can manually adjust the volume of water passing through an irrigation zone. Flow control valves are compatible with most automatic control valves and come in several different designs. Some are integrated into the valve body while others are available as add-ons. Irrigation flow control is often managed with a small handle, knob, or screw located on top of an automatic control valve. By turning the knob, you can either restrict the flow to decrease pressure or open it up to increase it, allowing you to fine-tune the amount of water delivered to a specific area.

Why Flow Control Valves Are Necessary

A common scenario for residential and commercial irrigation setups is where you have multiple zones; one with rotors and another with spray heads. Rotors typically require water pressure of at least 50 psi while spray heads work best with about 30 psi. If the 50 psi of water reaches your spray heads, misting will occur, causing some of the water to evaporate or blow away with the wind before it ever reaches the soil. By installing flow control valves in your spray head zones, you can provide the proper water pressure to all of your sprinklers. By slightly closing the irrigation flow control valve, you can reduce the pressure and get a more efficient, solid stream from the sprinklers.

Furthermore, exceedingly high pressure can wear out emitters prematurely. By installing flow control valves, it will act like a built-in safeguard, dialing back the flow and preventing sprinklers and other components from being subjected to the constant strain of overpressure.

Built-in Flow Control

Lots of modern irrigation valves combine standard zone control with an integrated mechanism to adjust water flow. Instead of installing a separate flow control device, these valves have a built-in knob or dial on the valve that allows you to increase or decrease the amount of water passing through that zone. This feature makes it easier to fine-tune pressure for your watering area, ensuring even coverage and reducing misting. They are especially convenient for residential or small commercial systems, since they also simplify the installation and maintenance of the valve.

Shop Flow Control Valves at Sprinkler Warehouse

At Sprinkler Warehouse, you can find everything you’ll need to keep your trees, lawns, flowerbeds, and gardens in top shape. If you have any questions about flow regulating valves or any or irrigation accessories, give us a call or chat with one of our customer service agents on SprinklerWarehouse.com. They really know their stuff, and they’ll be happy to provide support. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more how-to videos and for more irrigation tips.