Thank you for visiting the Hessenauer Sprinkler Repair and Irrigation blog and website. We like to give our website visitors news, tips and advice concerning sprinkler repair and irrigation here in the Central Florida and Orlando areas. Today we would like to offer our website visitors this quick summer irrigation maintenance checklist.
Summer is here and now the demand for a properly working sprinkler irrigation system is high. There is a great deal of importance on an irrigation system that runs efficiently without problems or issues. There are a few points that should be checked in order to assure a smoothly run irrigation system.
One of the first things to do is to run a check of all your programs and irrigation controls. Make sure the date and time are correct, and that the settings are appropriate for your landscape’s watering needs. Replace the back-up battery in the timer/controller every 6 months, and be sure to keep a copy of the watering schedule nearby.
Sometimes rocks, dirt, sand and other types of debris could block the even flow of water from the sprinkler heads. An unhealthy landscape and wasted water could be the result of uneven water leading to too much water in some areas and not enough in others. Inspect the spray heads to make sure they have not become buried and debris has not accumulated around them while the sprinkler irrigation system was inactive.
Generally, sprinkler nozzles and sprinkler heads are designed to withstand normal wear and tear of irrigation, but are no match for lawn mowers, the neighbor’s dog or anyone accidentally stepping on them. Replace cracked, chipped or worn sprinkler heads, nozzles, valves or pipes. A broken sprinkler can wreak havoc on lawns, gardens, and the water bill, so check and replace them periodically.
Sprinkler valves are the heart of any irrigation system which regulate the distribution of water throughout the entire system. Leaky valves waste water and increase your water bill. Visually inspect each valve to make sure they are operating properly. Before turning on any water to the system, make sure all manual drain valves are returned to the closed position. Overly wet areas in the lawn may be a result of a leaky valve.
Water hammer is a high-pressure surge that occurs when a valve is first opened. An initial pressure surge can result in burst pipes or damaged valves. When restoring water to your sprinkler system, open the main water valve slowly to allow pipes to fill with water in a gradual and controlled manner, thus preventing a water hammer and costly damage.
Upon first turning the main water valve on, make sure the water pressure is at a safe operating range for sprinkler systems. A system with too much pressure will result in cracked pipes, busted valves, sprinkler head leaks and inefficient watering. A water pressure gauge can be used to monitor and measure water pressure in the home and yard. These devices typically connect to a hose faucet and give you a good idea of the pressure in your irrigation system. If the pressure is above the suggested operating range, a pressure regulator may be required to prevent damage to the sprinkler system or undesirable results.
Again, thank you for visiting the Hessenauer Sprinkler Repair and Irrigation blog and website. Discover the advantages of using a company with over 30 years of experience in commercial and residential irrigation system and drainage here in Central Florida. If you are in the area and have sprinkler irrigation issues or a project to tackle, contact us today at 407-302-2227 for an estimate.