Fall is almost at an end. Winter is coming. With it, we in the western hemisphere say goodbye to the green around us as we get ready for snow.
It’s tempting to join the bears and squirrels and hibernate the cold away, but your lawn will suffer in the future as a result. Before you buckle down for the winter, you need to make sure your sprinkler system is ready. It needs to be in tip-top shape for when the weather warms up and your grass needs regular watering.
Here are five ways to get started.
Know Your Sprinkler Package Chart
The sprinkler package chart that came with your unit has the location of all your sprinkler and regulation systems, together with the center pivot. It’ll have detailed information on each sprinkler’s flow rate and nozzles. Getting acquainted with this chart is the first step
Flushing Your Sprinkler System
Sprinklers sometimes get plugged up because of the smaller size of nozzle. Giving it a good flush once a year should be enough to get it going again. Do this by removing the sand trap from the pivot and then flush this system for a few minutes, to force any lodged debris materials or debris.
System Pressure Analysis
You need to check the pressure of your system by using a pressure gauge at the pivot point, pump, and at the endpoint of the pivot.
Senniger, a company specializing in agricultural irrigation, recommends that pressure should be at least 5 psi above the pressure regulator rating. “If you have a 10 psi pressure regulator, your pressure gauge should read a minimum of 15 psi” it recommends. “Compare these numbers to the design pressure in your sprinkler package chart to ensure everything is falling in place.”
Check the Flow Meter
If you have a flow meter, then checking it is also necessary. Check to see if it gives you the correct readings. If the readings are incorrect, then you may need to do a bit of detective work to find the cause.
Check for Irregular Water Distribution Patterns
Lastly (but no less important), physically check your sprinkler. Look for lost parts, damage, and irregular water patterns. The water pattern needs to be consistent for it to be reliable. If errors are found, then you’ll have to disassemble your sprinkler to find the cause.
Before putting your sprinklers out of mind, remember to check the deflector pads. Ensure there is no debris build-up.
With winter fast approaching, it’s smart to take a little time and ensure that your sprinkler irrigation system is ready to tough out the chilly season. You want to make sure that once the warm weather rolls around, your sprinkler system is ready to make your grass the spring green it needs to be.