How to Move a Sprinkler Valve

Turn off the main water line. Most water lines are controlled by a single ball valve inside the house, usually in a basement or crawl space. Turn the valve 90 degrees counterclockwise to shut off the flow of water.

Open the irrigation valve box. The box is located along the perimeter of the house or near where the main water line branches out into the yard.

Disconnect the wiring harness for the valve that you want to move. Pull the plastic parts of the harness apart with even force to disconnect them. The harness is attached to the two wires sticking out of the top of the valve.

Grab the valve with your hands, and turn the entire unit counterclockwise until the valve pulls free from the base of the sprinkler manifold. Some valves are connected using locking nuts. To loosen the nuts, use adjustable pliers to turn the locking nut ring counterclockwise until the valve pulls free.

Move the valve to the new location. It can be moved to another spot on the manifold or to a different sprinkler system.

Screw the valve into the inlet hole on the manifold at the new location until the valve is tight.

Connect the wiring harness on the valve to the appropriate zone wiring. For example, if zone 1 is controlled by the red wire at the sprinkler timer, connecting the valve harness to the red wire will turn the valve into zone 1.

Insert a PVC plug into the hole from where you removed the valve if you want to stop using that valve connection. If you want to continue using the valve connection, insert a new valve into the hole, tighten it clockwise by hand and connect the wiring harness.