Adequate watering is important and necessary to grow a vibrant garden. Not everyone has the time to spend every day, however, making sure everything gets watered as it should. As a result, a lot of people turn to irrigation systems to provide sufficient water to their plants. Water flow in irrigation systems can be disrupted by issues, just like in any mechanical system. Right now, we'll explore some common irrigation issues as well as provide practical solutions to these problems to keep your garden flourishing. We’ll also focus on how Vu-Flow can help prevent some of these issues from ever arising in the first place.
The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources offers up several problems that someone might commonly face when dealing with an irrigation system. One such problem involves low water pressure, which can result from a variety of causes. Low pressure can lead to uneven watering and leave some areas of a garden parched.
Several things may need to be done to fix low water pressure. The first thing is to check the water source. It’s important to ensure that the main water supply valve is fully open. If it's even partially closed, that can reduce water pressure. You may also need to clean or replace filters. Clogged filters can obstruct water flow, so cleaning or replacing them regularly is necessary to maintain optimal pressure. A third thought would be to check for leaks as leaks in the irrigation pipes can reduce water pressure. Take the time to look over the system for leaks and repair them promptly.
A second common issue is clogged heads. Over time, debris, dirt, and mineral deposits can clog an irrigation system’s sprinkler heads, which also can lead to uneven water distribution.
The obvious way to fix this problem is to clean the sprinkler heads by removing them, washing them thoroughly, and reattaching them. You can also flush out your system. Flushing an irrigation system will help to remove sediment buildup that ultimately leads to clogs, preventing uneven water distribution.
Speaking of uneven water distribution, that is a problem in and of itself sometimes. Uneven watering can lead to some areas of your garden getting too much water while other areas remain dry. Oftentimes, this issue is related to the design and layout of an irrigation system.
One way to fix this issue is to adjust the sprinkler placement, making sure your sprinklers are correctly positioned to cover all areas of the garden evenly. Sometimes, it may be necessary to change nozzles or head types entirely. Different areas may require a different type of sprinkler head or nozzle to ensure even coverage. Another thing you can do is create a zone system. This can allow you to create separate watering schedules for each zone based on specific water needs.
Yet another problem that can arise with irrigation systems is overwatering. Overwatering can be just as harmful to plants as underwatering them. It can lead to root rot, fungal diseases, and of course wasted water resources.
Installing a rain sensor is one way to remedy this problem. A rain sensor is designed to detect when it's raining and will help prevent an irrigation system from running unnecessarily. If you have a timer on your irrigation system, it’s important to make sure that it’s programmed correctly. You’ll want to set the irrigation timer to water for the appropriate duration and frequency to meet the specific needs of your plants. Even if you have already covered these first two tips, checking for leaks is certainly not a bad idea. A leak in the system could end up leading to continuous water flow. Repairing leaks as quickly as possible can help to prevent wasting water.
Controllers can also lead to problems with an irrigation system. An irrigation controller is the brain of the system, so if and when it malfunctions, a watering schedule can be disrupted.
The first thing to do if you suspect controller issues is to check the power source. If there is an issue here, you may need to replace the batteries. You can also review the controller’s programming. It may be helpful to double-check that the desired watering schedule is set up. It may also be necessary to reset the controller. Simply resetting to factory settings and reprogramming the controller from scratch can be enough to eliminate any issues at times
There are numerous reasons why you might have issues with an irrigation system. Trying to get in front of these problems is the best way to take care of them before they even become issues to begin with. Vu-Flow offers a product that can help you prevent a couple of the problems that we highlighted above.
One of the problems referred to dealt with clogged sprinkler heads. At Vu-Flow, we sell a sediment filter that can block debris that would otherwise travel through your irrigation system and clog up the heads. These units are called either Screen or Sand Separator filters, and you have a few options to pick from if you decide to add one to your irrigation system. Vu-Flow offers these filters with ¾", 1”, 1-½", and 2” inlets/outlets. They also come in a variety of mesh options with a couple of different materials including polyester or stainless-steel. Among the numerous mesh sizes to pick from, there are 24, 30, 40, 60, 100, 140, 250, 500 and 1000 mesh.
Vu-Flow has also introduced an additional filter to our product line this year with a Y-Strainer. These filters are a good option when dealing with low flow rate water filtering such as drip irrigation systems. Vu-Flow Y-Strainers have a compact build, which makes them easier to install in small spaces. These filters also come with either mesh or disc filtration options and are sold in a few different inlet/outlet sizes.
If you have had problems with your irrigation system and want to prevent them going forward, Vu-Flow can help you out. Live customer service representatives are available to offer more information at 1-800-833-5171.
Source Notes: Some information in this article relating to problems with irrigation systems came from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
