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Published on 03/29/07

It's hot, dry and time to fix irrigation problems

By Kerry Harrison
University of Georgia

Spring has started on a hot, dry note, and the music will not likely change any time soon. Go ahead and check sprinkler systems now. Many lawns are already growing like it’s early summer.

Make sure the sprinkler heads are properly adjusted and not spraying too far out or too close in. Look for signs of broken risers beneath the sprinklers. Sometimes this is obvious: You'll have a traffic stopping geyser. A cracked riser will allow water to boil up around the sprinkler.

Inspect the sprinkler riser wiper seal for water flow. A small amount of water emitting past the wiper seal is acceptable while the system is running. Excessive water flow while a system is operating indicates a damaged seal.

Many times people will replace a sprinkler because it leaks between the wiper seal and pop up stem after the system has turned off. This leakage doesn’t indicate a problem. If water drains out after the system has turned off and eventually stops, the valve is fine.

For spray heads with filters under the nozzle, hold the pop up stem and unscrew the nozzle carefully. A damaged nozzle may cause an uneven spray pattern. A damaged pop up stem will result in a poorly performing wiper seal. Remove and clean the filter.

To clean clogged nozzles, flush with water or lightly tap it on a firm surface. While the filter is out, turn on the sprinkler and flush out the sprinkler body. Reinstall the filter and nozzle, turn on the zone and recheck for effective coverage. Make all of the necessary adjustments to cover the area properly.

While the water is on, inspect the other heads in the zone for proper operation.

To clean filters installed under the pop up stem, unscrew the cap from the body. Don't allow dirt to fall into the sprinkler body while the riser assembly and cap are removed.

The filter is at the bottom of the riser assembly. Remove it and flush it with water. Before reinstalling the assembly, run a small amount of water through the system to flush any debris caught in the sprinkler body.

It's very important to replace broken or poorly performing sprinkler heads. When a specific sprinkler isn't operating as it's designed or if water is flowing freely because of a worn wiper seal, the performance of all the other heads in the zone is affected. Water flowing unchecked past a wiper seal will cause a loss in pressure and affect the other sprinklers' performances.

Valve problems can be hard to fix. Check with a professional if you think you have valve troubles.

(Kerry Harrison is a Cooperative Extension irrigation engineer with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)

Experts/Sources:
Kerry Harrison
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