DIY Repair Of A Residential Sprinkler System
An underground lawn and garden sprinkler system is a great way to irrigate a residential yard. Spray sprinklers can cover small and large garden areas and can be operated manually or by an automatic timer. Most underground sprinkler systems are made of PVC pipe. If you find that your spray sprinkler system is not working properly, you may be able to repair it yourself. Here are some things you can do to repair your spray sprinkler system:
Sprinkler Head Cleaning: Locate a sprinkler head that is not working properly. Dig around the sprinkler head to expose the upright pipe that connects it to your water line. If you see that the sprinkler head is being choked by tree roots, cut them away. Remove the non-working sprinkler head from the system and rinse it well in a bucket of clean water. Unscrew the top of the sprinkler head from the canister and clean the screen inside the head with an old toothbrush to dislodge debris. Reassemble the cleaned sprinkler head and put it back in place. Test your system, and if you still have problems, replace the sprinkler head with a new one.
Sprinkler Head Replacement: Examine your sprinkler head carefully and look for cracks in the casing or inoperative parts. If you find obvious defects, replace the sprinkler head with a new one. It is more efficient to replace a problem sprinkler head than to try to repair it.
Leak In Water Line: Examine your irrigation system and look for the last working sprinkler head that extends from your water source. Dig along the water line and expose the PVC pipe that extends to a non-functioning sprinkler head. Look for a leak in the line indicated by very wet soil. Turn off your sprinkler system and dig around the water line to expose the leak.
- Once you find a leaking pipe, use a PVC cutter or hacksaw, to cut out the defective part of the water line.
- Cut a new piece of PVC pipe that is the length of the defective line that you removed.
- Coat both ends of the new pipe with PVC primer and then PVC glue.
- Place PVC couplings on each end of the new pipe to a depth of one-half the length of the couplings. Twist to tighten the connections and allow them to cure for 15 minutes.
- Coat the insides of the PVC couplings with primer and then glue.
- Place the new pipe and couplings onto the ends of the original water lines in the ground.
- Hold the new connections together for one minute to allow the glue to set.
- Wait 2 hours for the connections to fully cure and then backfill the hole with soil.
Electrical Problems: If you suspect an electrical problem in your sprinkler system, it is best to call an electrician. Explain the problem to the electrician and tell them of the repairs and cleaning you have already completed on your system. Demonstrate your sprinkler system to the electrician so that problems can be identified and repaired. Examine your underground sprinkler system each time you turn it on to catch any defects or problems while they are still minor. With a bit of detective work, a shovel, and some replacement parts, you may be able to locate problems and easily repair them yourself.
For more information, you will want to contact a company such as Lush N' Green.
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