subject: Frequently Asked Questions About Valve Boxes And Risers [print this page] Question: We will be raising the ground level of the sidewalk area in front of our house, and the water valve boxes will be situated too low. What can we do to fix this?
Answer: You can get valve box risers that fit snugly into the valve box and extend the height of a valve box up to 8 extra inches. They are adjustable, so you one riser can boost the box height anywhere from 2 and a half inches up to 8 inches. Valve box risers are made by several different companies, in varying shapes (round, rectangular, oval, etc.). Look for valve box risers made by Valvco, Trumbull, Grovind Steel Company, Storm Drain, and other manufacturers.
Question: I am upgrading my home's current sprinkler system. The existing system has the valves above ground (not protected in a box). Should I go to the bother of installing below ground boxes, or is this just for looks?
Answer: Installing below ground boxes does tidy up the appearance of a home or business, but this isn't the main reason so many sprinkler companies do this every time they install a new system.
A valve box protects your valves, wires, fittings, and manifolds from a lot that could go wrong. These boxes protect important parts of your sprinkler system from direct contact with the elements, from vandals, from animals who may chew on wires and valves, and it protects children from serious dangers that could arise from children playing with wires (and it protects you, the homeowner, from lawsuits that the kids' parents could bring against you if you have dangerous items in an unfenced portion of your yard). By putting the valves and wires in a weather-tight box situated half a foot under ground, you extend the life of your sprinkler system investment and minimize breaks, leaks, vandalism, and system malfunctions.
Question: Are cement valve boxes still the best on the market?
Answer: That depends on your use. They are expensive to ship and install, and awkward to move around, although they do tend to last longer in areas experiencing heavy use (such as the busiest of city street sidewalks, parks, and parking lots). Cement valve boxes can crack in freezing weather, while many plastic boxes can be a little less likely to crack in freezing temperatures. There are many plastic boxes that will last 80 years or more, so if you are installing a valve box in your yard it usually isn't worth the extra expense of installing an old-fashioned cement valve box.
