Irrigation System Maintenance
24 Landscape and Irrigation June 2014 www.landscapeirrigation.com
Irrigation and Water Management
By Lynette Von Minden
W
hether they're installed in a residential back-
yard, a park or a corporate campus, irriga-
tion systems take a beating. Harsh outdoor
elements, wildlife, kids, pets, vandals and
even seemingly innocent objects such as snow shovels, lawn
mowers, and snow throwers can damage system components.
Even having just one malfunctioning spray or rotor can cause
major performance and water consumption problems over
time. According to Jeremy Mansell, senior technical trainer
with Rain Bird's Service Division, an irrigation system can
be compared to any mechanical system that requires regular
maintenance.
"I used to be an irrigation contractor; and
when my customers were reluctant to discuss
a maintenance plan, I compared their systems
to a vehicle that needs an oil change," Mansell
explained. "Everyone understands it from that
perspective. If you want any mechanical sys-
tem to function as efficiently as possible, it has
to be maintained properly."
Wintertime worries
Spring is an ideal time for contractors to
suggest a comprehensive system check-up.
During the winter months, a number of
problems can occur unbeknownst to the
property owner, leading to a particularly
nasty surprise the first time they activate their
system in the spring. Small animals can crawl
into any openings in the piping system,
blocking the flow of water. A snow shovel,
snow thrower or city snowplow can throw
a spray or rotor near the street out of adjust-
ment or remove it completely. A missing
nozzle will not only cause a significant loss of
water, it will also lead to lower pressure at the
other heads, keeping them from popping up
and running like they should.
Other issues can arise from improper
winterization. Water remaining in the system
can freeze and expand, and everything that
doesn't give is going to be broken. There are
also potential problems that can take place
during the winterization process itself.
"Many contractors run compressed air
through irrigation systems to remove any
remaining water," said Mansell. "Some
contractors will hook up their compressors
at the backflow prevention device to remove
air from those lines, which is actually illegal
in some areas. This can cause damage to the
backflow device itself. The higher tempera-
ture of the compressed air can cause check
All
photos
provided
by
Rain
Bird
