Irrigation - Landscaping - Style

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About Jeff Wooten
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
All aspects of residential and commercial irrigation design, maintenance and troubleshooting.

Experience
I have worked as a Parks Department supervisor for 28 years. I have experience with all phases of irrigation projects from planning, designing, construction, and maintenance for both residential landscapes, commercial landscapes and large spaces such as parks.

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Questions Answered By Expert Jeff Wooten
In Category Irrigation

Subject	Date Asked

rain jet valve	1/2/2009
Q: I have the 3/4" rain jet valve. with the power turned on I have little pressure. I open the bleed ... A: Make sure the valve is adjusted properly. On top of the valve is a knob that adjusts the flow ...
Richdel Watering system	1/1/2009
Q: I have a Richdel garden sprinkler system, model number: 446PR50HZ. It was disconnected by previous ... A: If the common wire is known, hook it up to the common terminal on the controller. If not known, ...
drainage problem	12/31/2008
Q: I have attempted to attached two photos which depict a drainage problem we have on the hill behind ... A: It would be better to use gravel than sandbags. Line the runoff area with some large size gravel, ...
Rention Pond Sprinklers	12/30/2008
Q: We are researching ways to utilize water from a retention pond to irrigate surrounding areas. Do ... A: You will need a pump, and a good filtration device in the design of your system. Also, you will ...
Hardie RD-1200 LCD display off	12/30/2008
Q: Our RD-1200's LCD display is blank (no power). I confirmed that it's getting 24VAC to the controller ... A: Not unless you are handy with electronic repairs. Sometimes the boards go out, and there is little ...
Sprinkler heads seeping	9/27/2008
Q: When i turn on any sprinkler station, the station #1 sprinkler heads start seeping water out the ... A: It is more likely a problem with the control valve. It probably needs to have the diaphram ...
drainage of lawn sprinklers	9/12/2008
Q: My house is newly built. Approx. 3 months. I am in Barnegat New Jersey. We have new sod. When the ... A: The first thing I would do is reduce the amount of water that is being applied to the lawn, and see ...
All Sprinkler Zones not working	9/9/2008
Q: Symptoms: - All sprinkler Zones suddenly stopped working. - Control Panel seems to be working ... A: Try turning off the controller, removing all power to it, including the battery for about 3-5 ...
Rain Jet sprinkler parts	8/29/2008
Q: I installed a rain jet sprinkler system in my lawn about 28 years ago. One of the T connections for ... A: There should be an irrigation supplier near where you live, the kind that sells to contractors. John ...
electric wiring	8/12/2008
Q: the electric wire connected to a one and a half hp pump has three independent wire connection ... A: Its hard to say for sure. Usually with the pump there is a wiring diagram on the removable cover or ...
Have a valve which is working but I'm not getting any water to plants	8/11/2008
Q: I got new landscapers and they were fiddling with my irrigation system valves trying to turn my ... A: Chances are the flow has been turned down. The knob on top of the valve that looks like a big X is ...
Lawn Genie ticking solenoid	8/10/2008
Q: I have lawn genie irrigation system that came with my home, I estimate it is about 5 years old. ... A: Try removing the power from the controller for about 3 minutes, including any battery backup, then ...
Irrigating	8/9/2008
Q: I would like to irrigate a 100m by 100m area using a hand pump and a well can you suggest how i can ... A: Sprinklers need pressure to operate. The least I am aware of is about 15PSI. They also need a ...
Selection Hunter or K2	8/9/2008
Q: I am interested in knowing if you have any recommendations on various company sprinkler heads? I am ... A: I believe that you get what you pay for in irrigation equipment. I have never used K2 sprinklers, ...
PVC SCH 40 pipe broke	8/5/2008
Q: Doing some landscaping in the back yard. I (gardener) broke off a 3/4 sch 40 pipe inside of a T. ... A: It probably wont hold. I have tried it in the past and it never holds for long. You could try one ...
psi	7/30/2008
Q: I am attempting to design an irrigation system for a neighbor but before I even attepmt to ... A: Wow. Thats a lot of question. Be very careful when tapping into someones domestic water source for ...
sprinkler head	6/22/2008
Q: I have one sprinkler head in a zone that won't work. I have removed it and cleaned it out but still ... A: You have an obstruction in the line somewhere. It could be debris or it could be something like ...
sprinkler system not coming on	6/20/2008
Q: I have a RainDial sprinkler system. I can set the dial to come on, but the sprinklers don't come up ... A: Make sure that your main valve for the system is on. Then locate the irrigation valves, and find ...
irrigation	6/17/2008
Q: After power returns following infrequent power outages, the watering duration on all the circuits of ... A: There is not usually a way to set a new default. The only way to provide backup is if your ...
multizone sprinkler system	6/8/2008
Q: Until this year my multizone system worked fine, however a communication company broke two lines ... A: You have serious problems with your systems plumbing. I would consult with a landscaper regarding ...
Sprinklers won't turn off	6/8/2008
Q: We just bought a house with a Rain Bird sprinkler system, and we've never had a sprinkler system ... A: Your problem may be with the valves. Locate the irrigation valves, and make sure the the manual ...
No water	6/8/2008
Q: I have an existing system, but one of my zones has lost the majority of its pressure or fails to ... A: Chances are that you have a problem with the diaphragm inside the valve. These are a little tricky ...
Richdel battery operated timer	6/6/2008
Q: I have a Richdel battery operated timer for my sprinkling system. It requires a 9-volt battery to ... A: My guess is that there is some loose connection in the transfer of the power from the battery to the ...
hunter ec control panel	6/5/2008
Q: we recently installed a pool. the wiring for the sprinkler system was cut during the installation. ... A: It could be that the valves need to be adjusted. Open them up all the way, then close them all the ...
sprinklers vaules	6/4/2008
Q: how to find sprinklers vaules. I have 7 zones, but i found 3 values. one of my zone just stay on all ... A: It just takes a lot of investigation and dectective work. There are devices that can be used to ...
Sprinklers not coming on automatically	6/2/2008
Q: I have a rainbird controller. It has been working fine for years, but this summer it stopped ... A: The connection between the valves and the controller is the wires. But start looking at the ...
Zone 1 valve stuck open	6/2/2008
Q: This is the second year in a row where my zone 1 valve is stuck open. When I go to zone two the ... A: First, make sure that the valve is adjusted properly. Open the flow control all the way, then close ...
Toro GreenKeeper Controller tripping breaker	6/1/2008
Q: I have 8 zones. Seven of them are working five. Whenever I turns on the second zone, the water ... A: Replacing the sprinklers should not be the problem. I would suspect a faulty solenoid, the ...
Hardie - 11yr	5/31/2008
Q: I have a system with 3 zones. About 2yr ago, the 1st zone started to have problems. It work for a ... A: Sounds like your problem is with the valve or the wiring for that station. Start by checking the ...
pump cycling very slowly on and off	5/30/2008
Q: I have sprinkler system with six zones,after a full cycle i noticed the pressure going on and off ... A: It is most likely that the valve for station 5 had not closed all the way, and was letting some ...
zone issues	5/29/2008
Q: I have 5 zones. Zone 5 is in the backyard on a lower level. It used to work until I just had the ... A: Since some work was done in the area, there could be a few things to check. Make sure that the ...
Water Proof	5/22/2008
Q: I bought a brand new unit thinking the unit was the problem but I am still having the problem. When ... A: Its actually the wire connectors that need to be waterproof. If you remove one from the valve ...
turning on the sprinkler system in spring	5/21/2008
Q: the two valves that have to be turned on look like flat metal bolted to the pipe; they are stuck; ... A: Stuck valves have to be treated very carefully. Try using some penetrating oil like WD-40 on them ...
Rain Dial 6,9,&12 Station Indoor Controller	5/21/2008
Q: I have had my controller for about 10 years. Last week it stopped working. I punch all the buttons ... A: My experience with these controllers is that they have a fairly short lifespan. You can try to ...
irrigation system has no water coming out	5/21/2008
Q: we recently bought a house that has a irrigation system,,,,,,,,,the panel box was checked, the fuse ... A: A faulty backflow preventer can very well keep water from flowing into your system. Unfortunately, ...
Irrigation system filter	5/20/2008
Q: First, thank-you for the service! My sprinkler system makes me sad on a regular basis. My question ... A: It could be a couple of things. Your pump and motor could be getting worn, and might be heating up, ...
replacing main shutoff valve	5/20/2008
Q: I haven't been able to open the main shutoff valve for my sprinkler system. It seems to be frozen ... A: You will have to make sure that the water supply is turned off at the source, or you will get very ...
new unit no pressure	5/20/2008
Q: I bought a brand new unit thinking the unit was the problem but I am still having the problem. When ... A: Make sure that all the wiring connections are good and waterproof both at the controller terminals, ...
Water source	5/19/2008
Q: I turned on the water sprinkler system last week, everything worked fine until I noticed water ... A: The pipe with a cable inside of it is most likely serving as a conduit for an electrical wire of ...
Irrigation system filter	5/17/2008
Q: First, thank-you for the service! My sprinkler system makes me sad on a regular basis. My question ... A: It really depends on the type of debris in the system. If it is mud and muck, you may think about ...
Zone 1 won't shut off	5/16/2008
Q: I have a sprinkler system and I am having an issue with Zone 1 not shutting off. I have 4 zones and ... A: There should be two knobs on top of the valve. One is much smaller than the other. The larger one ...
flotec pump has very low output	5/15/2008
Q: Last summer we installed a 1.5 sprinkling pump and sank a point. Because it was outdoors we drained ... A: A couple of things come to mind. First, the well line may be plugged or have some other ...
blue wire blows out fuse from new timer	5/13/2008
Q: I am replacing a new timer. The old one is a Richdel 300 series 1993. The new timer is an Orbit 4 ... A: You need to identify which wire goes where. Take a look at your valves, there should be one wire ...
water drainage control- finding source	5/12/2008
Q: i have water coming through my hat field, but i can't find the source. it seems to be spreading out ... A: You just have to do a lot of walking around, and poking the ground looking for a place where the ...
Cannot control zone #4	5/11/2008
Q: I have 4 zones. Zone #4 is coming up with every other zone. When zone #4 comes up up itself, the ... A: There is either a problem with the wiring or the controller. First, check all the wire connections ...
Single station problem	5/9/2008
Q: One of my zones fully comes on, but then cycles on/off about every 10 seconds. All my other 8 zones ... A: Most likely there is a problem inside the valve. You need to take it apart and inspect the parts ...
irrigation system for my yard	5/6/2008
Q: My gardener recently replaced the valve for zone 1 of my yard sprinkler system. Now, when it comes ... A: Usually when that kind of shaking occurs, it is because there is a considerable pressure ...
zone not working	5/3/2008
Q: One of my zones isn't working, and I don't have a clue what to do first? Any help would be greatly ... A: First check to make sure the valve serving the zone is open about halfway. Then check to make sure ...
automatic sprinklers	5/2/2008
Q: what would cause my sprinkler heads to NOT go back down after running their cycle? A: If it is all or a lot of the heads, it may be that they have weak springs that may be worn out. If ...
Richdel 446 Controller	4/30/2008
Q: I have a Richdel 446 controller at my residence on a six zone irrigation system. Tried to start in ... A: Perhaps is the main shutoff still closed? If not you may want to check to see if the controller ...
Low water pressure for 2 out of 6 stations	4/30/2008
Q: I am a new homeowner so I am new at the whole irrigation thing. Basically I have 6 stations in make ... A: First, check to make sure that the valves that control those stations are opened up about halfway. ...
only 2 zones work	4/29/2008
Q: All zones were working fine, it rained yesterday and only 2 zones are currently working on automatic ... A: I would suspect that a wire, probably the common wire for the zones that are dead is shorted out ...
Sprinkler cycle won't start - pressure related	4/29/2008
Q: my sprinkler system won't come on. if i flush a few toilets and runa couple sinks... then it will ... A: This is really confusing me. Is the PVB perhaps installed backwards? Or perhaps it is too large ...
Underground sprinkler system	4/29/2008
Q: I have a Rainbird system. Everything works ok,all zones come on and shut off when they are supposed ... A: There could be a couple of things. One is that if the sprinkler with the seepage is lower than the ...
Underground sprinklers	4/28/2008
Q: We turned on our underground sprinklers yesterday after a long Michigan winter and we had four ... A: Its more likely a problem with the irrigation valve than the sprinklers. Locate the valve, and try ...
Not enough pressure	4/28/2008
Q: My husband installed a new Rainbird system. He checked the PSI and it was 80. When testing the ... A: Make sure the main valve and the irrigation valves are open. Another consideration is that the ...
Turning System Back on in Spring	4/27/2008
Q: How do I turn my system back on after the winter? Is it as simple as turning on the main valve and ... A: Thats a good start. Then you will want to go through each station and check for proper operation, ...
locating irrigation shut off	4/23/2008
Q: I need to work on the sprinkler system and cannot find the shut off. I have a sprinkler box near ... A: It could really be anywhere. Common places are: where the water comes into the house, there may be ...
Sprinkler System Problem	4/23/2008
Q: My Hardie sprinkler system HR6100 does not work correctly. When I activated it this spring the ... A: Im not all that familiar with the Hardie 6100, but a lot of controllers have a small microswitch ...
Sump Pump Pipe Burial	4/22/2008
Q: I live in a flat cookie-cutter neighborhood with backyards that back up one-to-another. I have a ... A: Be very careful where you put water. It never behaves in the way we expect it to. But since you ...
Shaking Pipes when system transitions from zone 5 to zone 6	4/21/2008
Q: When I test the zones individually, all sprinklers are functional and there is no pipe shaking. When ... A: The pipe shaking is probably a pressure differential situation that should be resolved if you adjust ...
shallow well low pressure	4/19/2008
Q: we need more people like you guys that take time out of your schedules to help people with their ... A: Since there was no change with the new pump, lets assume that the pump is OK. So it must be a well ...
Rain Dial	4/17/2008
Q: I just bought a house with a Rain Dial system, but there is no key to open it. It is getting hot ... A: A lot of these Rain Dials can be opened with a standard screwdriver if you work it around gently in ...
What is broken?	4/13/2008
Q: Turned system on this spring. Did a manual cycle thru all the zones 1,2,4,5. Zone 4 kept going even ... A: Sounds like your irrigation valve is either sticking or is not adjusted. Try adjusting it by ...
Backyard Irrigation	4/12/2008
Q: I live in Missouri and we have recently been hit with some bad flooding. We were fortunate that ... A: Im really not an expert on this kind of thing, and I recommend that you do consult with someone who ...
Zone wont turn off with timer	4/8/2008
Q: I recently had a small area of my yard landscaped. The landscaper told me that he would come and ... A: Try adjusting the valves by opening the flow control all the way, then close it all the way counting ...
sprinklers not working	4/8/2008
Q: I have a 4 zone sprinkler system, all the zones work but 2 of the sprinklers on one zone don't work. ... A: Something has either obstructed or crushed your lateral line between the last sprinkler that works ...
Valve works on manual but low flow when using the soleniod	4/7/2008
Q: I have one valve that works great on manual. But when I have it run from the controller it has very ... A: For some reason the valve is not opening fully. Try adjusting it by opening it all the way, then ...
sprinklers not working	4/7/2008
Q: I have a 4 zone sprinkler system, all the zones work but 2 of the sprinklers on one zone don't work. ... A: If you havent seen any leaks or noticed any broken pipes, then I would suggest that you check the ...
Hardie control panel problem	4/6/2008
Q: The control panel on my JH Hardie home irrigation system is flashing random digits and characters. ... A: Its not a good sign. Try unplugging the controller and remove any battery backup that is installed. ...
Sprinkler system will not start	4/5/2008
Q: I have a rain dial residential sprinkler system. It has always worked fine but when I attempted to ... A: Make sure all of the electric valves are open halfway, check your main water supply again. You may ...
Solor panel	4/1/2008
Q: Do you have any knowledge on solotrol irrigation systems? the control box is a small solar panel ... A: A company called DIG now makes what was once the Solatrol. I have used a few of them for ...
Rainbird rotor sprinklers leaking.	3/31/2008
Q: My rainbird sprinkler is leaking. I have several others that are not leaking that are located on ... A: Sprinkler heads that are at the bottom of slopes commonly have a condition called low head drainage. ...
Hunter EC control panel will not update time	3/30/2008
Q: I have a Hunter EC four station indoor control panel that worked perfectly last summer but now won't ... A: Sounds like youve tried everything I would have tried. You might make an attempt to clean the ...
RainBird R-50 Rotors	3/28/2008
Q: I have about 50 of the R-50 Rotors and the entire system is about 7 years old. Over the years from ... A: The R-50 has had problems with retraction since I can remember. I once had a 6 acre park that had ...
HARDIE TOTAL CONTROL 15 STATION TIMER OUTDOOR	3/24/2008
Q: I went to check on this today and the message across the screen says short. Does this mean the ... A: It is more likely that there is a short in the valve wiring, probably either the connections at the ...
orbit tripot sprickler head	3/22/2008
Q: How do I adjust the above Sprinkler Head. I am using this in an indoor arena and would like to not ... A: I can't tell from your description which exact type of sprinkler you are referring to, but try the ...
RainJet Sprinkler Timer	3/21/2008
Q: I have a 6 Zone RainJet Sprinkler Timer with 4 stations. The timer is showing a message saying "Bad ... A: If the wires for station 4 are still connected to the controller, disconnect them. Then reset the ...
Lawns	3/19/2008
Q: I Just moved into a new house and am trying to figure out how much to water the lawn, which has been ... A: I would have to know a little more about where you live and what kind of lawn you have. It is ...
HR62000 HARDIE TIMER	3/15/2008
Q: MY HR 62000 KEEP BLOWING 2AMPS FUSES DO YOU WHY ? THANKS A: I dont really know the reason without a lot more information, but you may want to try cleaning the ...
sprinkler system leak	3/14/2008
Q: I have one sprinkler that seems to have a small bit of water seeping out of the head. I've replaced ... A: Most likely it is your control valve for that zone. You will need to locate the valve, and then you ...
flotech irrigation system	2/17/2008
Q: I have a 4 zone flotech irrigation system. Installed new pump. Tends to skip the last zone,and ... A: Try a couple of things. First try to reset the controller by disconnecting the power completely for ...
drip irrigation	2/6/2008
Q: I'd like to install a drip irrigation system in our flower beds. The problem is that we live in San ... A: You will probably have some problems with hard water, but there are things that you can do to ...
Check valve	1/24/2008
Q: I have a system with shallow well for sprinkling only. Keep loosing the prime. It takes about 5 ... A: A check valve, or foot valve, is a valve that is on the downstream side of your pump, (usually at ...
no water thru the valve	1/18/2008
Q: I have had my irrigation off for 2 months I turned them on yesterday and all 8 of them are making a ... A: First, make sure the water supply to the valves is open all the way. You may not have enough flow ...
Irrigation Water Pumps	1/12/2008
Q: I have a flotec water pump, the system works fine under manual mode. However, when no in operation ... A: You need first to check all of the electrical connections that involve the pump, the pump start ...
Pump Start Relay	1/9/2008
Q: I have an old Rainbird electromechanical sprinkler system timer. Other than having to replace the ... A: Try checking all the electrical connections for the relay, especially the 120V connections. If you ...
multi zone problem	12/21/2007
Q: several zones on at same time, all weak pressure, have bled valve body and still same A: I would suspect that the problem is more likely with the controller or the wiring rather than the ...
shut-off valve	12/10/2007
Q: I bought a home and have no idea where the shut-off valve is to my sprinkler system. I have looked ... A: Sometimes they have been installed near the irrigation valves. Look for a gate valve or something ...
water bubbling up from valve box	12/7/2007
Q: when i turn on the station for the backyard i can see water bubbling up from the valve box. i dug ... A: You need to thouroughly expose the leak by digging and clearing all the soil around it, so you can ...
irrigation avocados	11/30/2007
Q: we have to cut water by 30% starting next mo. we changed all our sprinklers to 17gph and our ... A: It would be similar to Fresno, but not exactly the same. Follow this link to CIMIS, the ...
irrigation avocados	11/29/2007
Q: we have to cut water by 30% starting next mo. we changed all our sprinklers to 17gph and our ... A: The best measure of how much water you need to apply is by the evaportanpoation (eT) rate. For my ...
Irrigation system	11/24/2007
Q: I have a Irritrol MC-42 Plus Hardie Irrigation System. The other day we had an one hour brown out ... A: If you have a reset button, push and hold it for 10 seconds. this should clear the problem. If ...
Drip Irrigation Valve	11/10/2007
Q: Two of my irrigation valve "squeal" when they are activated. Any ideas of what causes this? I ... A: There could be a couple of reasons. One is that the valve needs to have the flow adjusted. Do this ...
TORO EL-6+ one of the zone is always one	11/4/2007
Q: My house has a 5 zone irrigation system: TORO EL-6+ recently when I turn on any zone, water from ... A: It is probably a problem with the circuit board on the controller. Try cleaning it by blowing the ...
winterizing irrigation system	11/2/2007
Q: We recently moved into a home that has the irrigation system fed from the lake. We have no idea how ... A: I assume you live in a cold winter area. First, turn off the controller. Then turn off all the ...
Irrigation Pump	10/12/2007
Q: When one of my zones is running the pump turns off and on the entire running time. All the other ... A: The pump is cycling because it build up its maximum pressure, then waits until it is low again to ...
cracked pvc pipe	10/6/2007
Q: i have a 2" pipe in the crawl space connecting to a Y on a 4" pipe. this takes the water into the ... A: There is an epoxy putty that I have used for such situations before. You need to make sure that the ...
sprinkler system.	10/4/2007
Q: I have an outdoor sprinkler system, obviously on a timer as well, winter is coming, i want to shut ... A: You need to locate the timer and turn it off. Then you have to find the shut-off valve that will ...
control valve not working	10/4/2007
Q: Had two bad zones on my sprinker system. Instead of replacing the entire controller, I just ... A: I think what you refer to as a controller is what I call a valve. The valve that isn't working ...
pump & pressures	9/25/2007
Q: My pump for irriagation is at about 400 ft. The water table is about 200ft over the pump. I am ... A: It hard to say without knowing the particulars of your system. If your pressure is fluctuating that ...
Drip System over waters	9/24/2007
Q: Last year I had a Landscaper install a drip system in my flower beds around the perimeter of my back ... A: 1) Install the pressure regulator near the valve. 2) The anti siphon valve is a backflow preventer, ...
Richdel connection to water supply	9/22/2007
Q: I have recently moved into a house with a Richdel electronic watering system. The actual irrigation ... A: The Richdel is the controller that electronically turns on and off the valves that should be located ...
Leaky sprinkler heads	9/19/2007
Q: I have two or three areas in my yard that are wet all the time like the valve is leaking thru - do I ... A: You can replace it or rebuild it, but I would suggest replacing it. Its not that much more ...
One zone is not working	9/19/2007
Q: One of our zones is not operating, my husband removed the grass that grew over the sprinkler heads ... A: Could be a couple of things. I would suspect that since some work was done around the sprinkler ...
Hardie HR 6200 irrigation system - one stationdoesn't work	9/15/2007
Q: I have a Hardie Irrigation HR 6200 irrigation system with 5 stations on a timer. When station 1 ... A: If the water is flowing but nothing coming out of the sprinklers, check for a leak in the sprinkler ...
french drains/infiltration trench	9/14/2007
Q: We have a house that was built in the 1980s. It has a wood foundation - plywood below ground, no ... A: Im sorry, but I dont think I can help you with this. Putting in drains is a tricky matter, ...
control valve	9/14/2007
Q: My sprinklers in my back yard wont turn on when they are programmed but will turn on manually.My ... A: Sounds like it may be a wiring problem. Check the wire connections at the timer, make sure that the ...
Shallow Well problems	9/13/2007
Q: I need help. I wanted a well so I went to Lowes and bought a 1 1/4 x 36 well tip and approximately ... A: You may want to take the suction line out of the well and make sure that it is clear. Also, ...
Hydrotek valve skipping zones	9/11/2007
Q: I have a deep well feeding a Hydrotek 4000 6-zone system. When I turn off the pump for a few ... A: You probably have a jet pump that works by pushing water down to make a suction. There should be a ...
Hardie Total Control Sprinkler System	9/10/2007
Q: We bought an existing home in 2004 that had an irrigation system. We didn't use it or have it ... A: There is a programming process called continuous cycle that has probably been activated on your ...
Rainbird nozzles in Hunter Pro Sprays	9/9/2007
Q: My designer mentioned to put rainbird nozzles in hunter prosprays. How do I change the nozzles? A: Its very easy. With the water off, gently pull up on the existing nozzle, lifting the stem. THis ...
nO WATER	9/7/2007
Q: I HAVE NO WATER COMING OUT OF ANY OF MY FAUCETS. WHERE DO I START CHECKING FOR THE PROBLEM A: There has to be a valve off somewhere. Look around the house, and try to locate all the valves, and ...
ARTESIAN WELL FILTER CLOGGING	9/5/2007
Q: I'VE BEEN SCANNING THE INTERNET SEEKING HELP REGARDING MY ARTESIAN WELL AND STUMBLED ACROSS YOUR ... A: It has to be some contamination in the well. I am not that familiar with artesian wells, but I know ...
2 of 3 stations quit working	9/4/2007
Q: My rainbird system has never had problems before but this year station 1 stopped working. I sent my ... A: Your problem is more likely with the wiring than the valves. Replace all the wire connectors with ...
Irrigation pressure	8/27/2007
Q: I just had an iriigation system installed and when each zone is running my pressure tanks gauge says ... A: Reducing the GPM can and usually does result in less coverage by the sprinkler, unless they change ...
Replacement for an outdoor single station sprinkler control	8/27/2007
Q: I have a 15 year old single station Richdel outdoor controller which gets stuck at 4pm, and won't ... A: You are not likely to find any parts for the old controller. You may have to suck it up and get a 3 ...
Connections	8/24/2007
Q: Jim Grote has expressed his unequivocal dislike of "saddles" for connectors. The contractor with ... A: My name is Jeff, and I dont like saddles either for installation. They are prone to leaks and the ...
Very Low Pressure Valve	8/22/2007
Q: I'm capturing rainwater in half a dozen rain barrels around the house. I'd like to install ... A: I dont know much about this, because where I live it is not an issue. But I seem to recall that ...
Valve Box Location	8/20/2007
Q: We recently bought a home that has a lake-fed sprinkler system. We believe there are some problems ... A: If they are buried, then its going to take some detective work to find them. Get a shovel or a ...
Several zones not working	8/19/2007
Q: I have a Hunter ICC, zones 2-8 won't turn on from the controller but will if I manually turn the ... A: More likely the wiring to the valves or at the valves. Its hard to trace wiring, but check all the ...
adjustable sprinkler heads--how to adjust?	8/17/2007
Q: I recently bought two Toro 570 adjustable sprinkler heads to cover some new grass that I put in. I ... A: If they are the variable arc nozzle, then you adjust them by turning the area just below the top of ...
HydroRain irrigation valve diaphram	8/16/2007
Q: I have an older HyrdroRain residential sprinkler valve which has failed. The valve controls city ... A: Yes, is is normal for water to come out of the bleed and solenoid holes. It could be your ...
irrigation filter from well clogging	8/15/2007
Q: we have a well used for our irrigation system. it is suddenly clogging in the filter every time we ... A: It sounds like you are picking up sediment from the well. It could be due to several factors: low ...
rainbird sprinkler system	8/15/2007
Q: We have a Rainbird Maxi-Paw system installed in 1993. We do maintenance each winter and have never ... A: First, make sure all of your supply valves to the system are fully open. If you have any filters or ...
System reading short	8/14/2007
Q: I have a six station watering system. It's been working fine until recently. The display is reading ... A: You have an electrical short somewhere in the system. Most often these are in the wire connections ...
wells	8/11/2007
Q: Can I make a well at home that is deep enough and wide enough to water a quarter of an acher? Is it ... A: It depends on so many things: the water table in your area, local codes and regulations, the type ...
Pressure reduced	8/10/2007
Q: Jeff -- My town has reduced the water pressure and this has negatively impacted my irrigation ... A: You can mix heads with little problem, but there are a few considerations. You want to try to match ...
Lawn sprinkler don't shut off	8/10/2007
Q: I move to 10 years old house. There is 4 stations sprinkler for the lawn. Everything work well until ... A: Try adjusting the valve. There is a knob on top of the valve that is the flow control. Open it all ...
SHORT	8/9/2007
Q: I have had a Hardie Total Control-12 Station controller on my home irrigation system for six years. ... A: I think you may have a short in the common wire that is like the neutral for your valve wires. ...
inground sprinkler	8/8/2007
Q: I have a 6 zone inground sprinkler system. I recently just closed on the house and I cant seem to ... A: If it doesn't work using the controller, first make sure that the valve is open and adjusted. On ...
size of irrigation pump	8/7/2007
Q: I am planning to use lake water to use in a lawn sprinkling system. Where the pump will be located ... A: A lot depends on the amount of water that will be required by each irrigation zone. If you have ...
loss of pressure	8/4/2007
Q: I have a fairly new irrigation system( 1 1/2 yrs old) with a gould 1.5hp irrigator pump, 5 zones and ... A: I would suspect that there is some damage to the pump---whether it is the impeller or not I can't ...
Damaged field wiring	8/4/2007
Q: I have a 2 zone system and one isn't working. I found out that the solenoid is fine but I found a ... A: Your wire probably became corroded because it had a nick or cut in the insulation, allowing moisture ...
Large cistern Advise on pump & automatic sprinkler system	8/4/2007
Q: I buried a large container with 12000 gallons of capacity as a cistern. It collects water from the ... A: Honestly, much of the information you request depends on the type of system you want, the size of ...
Irrigation will work, then stop	8/3/2007
Q: Heres my question. I noticed this morning (for the 2nd time in a row) that my sprinkler system will ... A: Yes, you most likely have a lowered water table as a result of lack of rainfall. You may need to ...
Hardie Rain Dial Sprinkler System	7/28/2007
Q: I recently bought a house with this type of a sprinkler system. We go there every other week and I ... A: Hardie is now owned by Irritrol. They used to have manuals available for thier older controllers ...
Sprinkler zone won't shut off	7/25/2007
Q: Last year I installed a new controller (old one stopped working at 20 years old) in my five zone ... A: The first thing to try is to adjust the valve for that zone. Locate the valve, then there should be ...
programming hardie rain dial	7/19/2007
Q: I have a hardie rain dial controller. There don't seem to be any zones on it but there is an a b and ... A: Yes. The a, b, and c settings are separate programs that will allow the controller to operate the ...
1 out of 6 irrigation zones stopped working	7/18/2007
Q: We moved into our new home 8 mths ago. Know nothing about irrigation systems as we came from the wet ... A: You need to locate the valve that serves that area, and do a few things to check its operation. ...
irrigation problem	7/18/2007
Q: i have a 25ft. deep well a pvc pipe was dropped down into the well. the pvc pipe is only 10 ft. ... A: This may work. If you know what size the pipe was that was dropped in the well, get two full ...
Shallow Well Trouble Shooting	7/17/2007
Q: Jeff, I have installed a shallow well (9 feet) on my property to run my underground irrigation ... A: If other people have had problems with lowering the well, you probably will as well. It sounds like ...
irrigation pump not staying primed	7/15/2007
Q: I have close to the same question as someone else you answered. Pump is 7.5 hp going out to 15 ... A: At the very end of your suction line, there should be a check valve (called a foot valve) that keeps ...
Sprinkler System Water Pressure	7/15/2007
Q: In one of the zones in my lawn irrigation system only one of the sprinkler heads, out of 7 , is ... A: Start by adjusting the valve for that zone. On top of the valve is a knob that controls the flow. ...
Sprinkler systems shuts off after 5 minutes	7/12/2007
Q: Our sprinkler system shuts off after 5 minutes...Nothing in the garage will work after it ... A: I can think of several things to check. If the outlet where the controller is plugged in is a GFCI ...
underground irrigation piping	7/10/2007
Q: I have a small garden and would like to develop a rain basin to collect rain water and through field ... A: There are a couple of things I can think of. You need some increase in pressure to make sure that ...
Lawn Pump not working	6/21/2007
Q: We have a 17 year old Sta-Rite 1.5 HP lawn pump. It was working fine until a few days ago. The ... A: 17 years is a heck of a long time for a pump. To make it easy on yourself, get a new one that is as ...
everythings on !	6/21/2007
Q: had to dig out root entwined PVC. Since hooking it back together all zones are all on at the same ... A: It sounds more like a wiring problem to me. You may want to start by redoing all the electrical ...
irrigation	6/20/2007
Q: I want to install an irrigation system with just hydrants to attach hoses. The water will have to ... A: Starting from scratch on this is not all that hard. You will need a pump, probably a centrifugal ...
landscape irrigation	6/17/2007
Q: I have a spring under the house. 450K gal/yr min. How to I use this water (10' below ground level) ... A: You would need a cistern or well of some type to hold the water so that it can be pumped out. Maybe ...
psr22 wiring	6/17/2007
Q: have hunter icc controller and psr 22 relay. when i turn station on, relay activates but then ... A: If your controller is not well grounded, this will sometimes happen. Check the ground connection, ...
Automatic Sprinkler Valve won't Turn Off	6/14/2007
Q: Not sure if this makes any sense, but I have a series of 6 standard automatic antisiphon valves on a ... A: It sounds like you need to adjust that valve. Open the flow control on the valve all the way (this ...
Pump not keeping a prime	6/13/2007
Q: I've read the forum, and can't find something that fits my problem specifically. I have a 1.5 hp ... A: There must be air leaking into the system somewhere. Start by checking all of the pipe connections, ...
Best irrigation systems	6/13/2007
Q: I want to install an irrigation system on my sloping 3/4 acres property. I can't seem to find any ... A: All of the brands you mentioned are good quality products. The problem is that most of the cost is ...
In ground sprinkler system	6/11/2007
Q: There was an in ground rain bird sprinkling system in the home I bought. Worked fine for 2 years. ... A: There has to be a valve in the system that is partially closed, or the irrigation valves are not ...
Pump keeps tripping breaker	6/10/2007
Q: I have a lawn irrigation pump connected to a fresh water lake at my weekend cottage. The water ... A: First, check the circuit breaker to make sure that it is not faulty. If not, then you have to ...
waterpump	6/7/2007
Q: installed a new waterpump everything seems to be right. it will pump up to 50 psi and hold it until ... A: I sounds like there is too much water being used by the system for the capacity of the pump. First, ...
Pressure Tank	6/7/2007
Q: I have a shallow well which runs a 4 zone sprinkler system. I recently replaced the pump with a ... A: It sounds like there is not enough output by the pump for the system. First, make sure all the ...
irrigation timer gone wild!	6/5/2007
Q: We recently moved into a house with an irrigation system and I must confess my lack of knowledge. ... A: Get a new timer!.. They are not that expensive and fairly easy to install. You basically need to ...
Weeping heads	6/4/2007
Q: I have a underground sprinkler head that is leaking water continually. Any suggestions? A: This usually means that the valve is not closing all the way, or has damaged components inside. ...
Irrigation valve not turning off	6/4/2007
Q: The zone one with my Toro system does not shut off. It is the first to come on in the series as ... A: Try adjusting the valve. First open the flow control knob all the way, then close it all the way, ...
irrigation zone control	6/2/2007
Q: Hardie HD 15 system, 4 zones, had to dig out root cracked PVC 3 valve area. Now all zones are on ... A: More likely that it is an electrical problem. You may have inadvertantly scraped or otherwise ...
irrigation	6/1/2007
Q: when the irrigation goes on there is a loud knock or bang when it first goes on. What is the cause? ... A: It could be your valves. Try adjusting them by opening the valve all the way, then close it all the ...
irrigation	6/1/2007
Q: Couple of question for you I would like to actually understand the sprinkler system. Would ... A: The first valve is probably the main water valve, so it needs to be off. The second valve is ...
station problem	5/31/2007
Q: I have a 5 zone system, which was working until yesterday, 4 of the 5 work, but nothing comes from ... A: It might be. Check the wire connectors at your valve to make sure they are good. Replace them if ...
Toro EL-6 Zone not working	5/29/2007
Q: I have a Toro EL-6+ system with six zones. The first time I fired it up this season, I found that ... A: First, check to see if the electrical output from the controller is OK. Either use a multimeter to ...
Low pressure of sprinkler system and water pump	5/28/2007
Q: I just installed a underground sprinkler system in my front yard. The yard is 40*80 feet. I have ... A: Honestly, with the amount of pressure you are describing, I can't imagine that you would need a pump ...
water pump	5/27/2007
Q: HOW TO START SPRINKLER SYSTEM WATER PUMP A: It depends on the configuration of your system, the type of pump and water supply. The simple ...
System up and running but no water?	5/26/2007
Q: We have a Pro-C sprinkler sytem with 6 zones. We followed all the instructions for start up. The ... A: Make sure all of the valves that supply water to the system are open all the way. If you have any ...
Toro Vision irrigation system operation	5/24/2007
Q: Just purchased a house for investment/rental purposes with a 1990 Model 189-66-01 Toro Vision ... A: I am not familiar with the Toro Vision controller. I think it is a combination ...
Timer wont activate pump	5/24/2007
Q: I just installed a new Flotec pump, a new digital 4 timer, and a pump relay. I tried to manual ... A: Make sure that the relay is getting the right amount of voltage from the controller. It should be ...
controller is off (unplugged) and sprinkler system is still on	5/24/2007
Q: I turned on the water to my sprinkler system this past week. My controller (Hunter ICC, 14 zones all ... A: Very perplexing. Controllers do go bad, and when they do, strange things can happen. However, if ...
Shut off valve	5/23/2007
Q: I purchased a home with an existing Rain Dial Hardie sprinkler system with no manuals or information ... A: Make sure your backflow preventer is turned on as well. Try manually operating the valves to see if ...
McGuiver would be stumped!!	5/22/2007
Q: Jeff this is the craziest thing I have ever seen. I have 4 zones on my system and draw water from a ... A: My guess is still that it has something to do with the valve. However, if you can use a multimeter, ...
Shut off valve	5/22/2007
Q: I purchased a home with an existing Rain Dial Hardie sprinkler system with no manuals or information ... A: The shut off valve could be in the round green box you spoke of. Try removing some of the dirt from ...
Low sprinkler pressure	5/21/2007
Q: I have 3 zones in my backyard --- one of the zones only works when I do the manual override at the ... A: For some reason the valve is not opening all the way when operated electrically. If you can use a ...
Leaking Sprinkler Valve	5/21/2007
Q: I overtightened the small flathead screw that lets one manually turn on / off the sprinkler flow ... A: I dont know of an easy way to fix it. I have replaced the entire top of the valve before, but it ...
Prostream Lawn Sprinkler	5/20/2007
Q: how do I adjust the distance on the ProStream Lawn Sprinkler? A: There should be a small screw on the top of the sprinkler, right above the nozzle that will reduce ...
broken input pipe to pump	5/19/2007
Q: I have a Sta-Rite Model HMSF-1FL pump which pulls water out of my lake for my irrigation system. As ... A: I dont know for sure, but the device you are describing could be a check valve, which helps maintain ...
how to find valves that are under the sod	5/18/2007
Q: How do you find valves that are under the sod A: There are two ways I use most often. The easiest is to use a metal detector and probe. Another way ...
sprinkler system	5/17/2007
Q: Couple of question for you I would like to actually understand the sprinkler system. Would ... A: Well, not knowing the configuration of your system, I really can't comment on which valve to turn on ...
Irrigation system design options	5/16/2007
Q: Jeff, I am planning to install a sprinkler system which draws water from the lake at the edge of my ... A: If you are concerned about protecting the pump, then perhaps a pressure system with a pressure ...
Irrigation system design options	5/16/2007
Q: Jeff, I am planning to install a sprinkler system which draws water from the lake at the edge of my ... A: Wow, that's quite a question. But here goes: I think putting in a pressure tank would be a little ...
INDEXER	5/16/2007
Q: Is there a modern electronic timer that has a pause between cycles so the indexer can cycle? (The ... A: There are some irrigation controllers that offer a delay feature between cycles. We use Rainmaster ...
Hardie 4000 wire configuration.	5/15/2007
Q: I noticed that a blue wire is hanging off of the main board and I do not know where this lines up. ... A: If all of your sprinklers are working properly, then the blue wire may have been an extra that was ...
one zone not working	5/13/2007
Q: This is a follow up to my question earlier today... So--the crazy zone 2--we came back from dinner ... A: I would suspect that there is some sort of contamination in the valve that was obstructing it. It ...
one zone with no water pressure	5/13/2007
Q: I live in Florida and have recycled city water for my irrigation. My system has four zones, four ... A: That's great that your city has recycled water for landscape irrigation. I think it is the wave of ...
Manifold or not??	5/12/2007
Q: Should I put all valves in one manifold bank or spread out through the yard? What are advantages / ... A: Fnor most smaller yards (less than 1 acre) I think it is best to have a manifold in one location. ...
Sprinkler valve problems	5/12/2007
Q: A couple of my sprinkler valves have stopped working. They are loud when activated and produce a ... A: Try adjusting the low control. There should be a knob or other device on top of the valve that ...
Sprinkler system	5/11/2007
Q: I bought a house with an inground sprinkler system. When a turn open the main water valve, all the ... A: I think you may have encountered a system that was winterized. I suspect that the irrigation valves ...
Zone 1 won't shut off	5/11/2007
Q: I have JH Hardie 4000 system with 4 zones. This year when I opened the valve, Zone 1 began sprinkle ... A: Try adjusting the valve for zone 1. On top of the valve is a flow control knob. Open it all the ...
sprinkler pump	5/11/2007
Q: My 1.5 HP sprinkler pump when turned on by the timer will not run and makes an extremely loud hum ... A: You will probably have to have someone check it out. There are a lot a precautions involved in ...
Pump	5/10/2007
Q: Jeff, My sprinkler system here in Florida draws from a Canal. My pump runs but, no water, I found ... A: First try priming the pump by pouring some water into it directly. There is usually a plug or ...
sprinkler pump	5/10/2007
Q: My 1.5 HP sprinkler pump when turned on by the timer will not run and makes an extremely loud hum ... A: Yes it could be the solenoid, or the relay between the pump and the controller. Try resetting the ...
Section Malfunction	5/10/2007
Q: I have a six section sprinkler system, and I have 8 valves. It has worked this spring, and I ... A: I would start by checking and perhaps redoing all of the wiring connections, both at the controller ...
pressure	5/9/2007
Q: I have recently primed my pump, and when I start running through the zones they start off well then ... A: You may have a problem with the foot valve of your well line, or you may be having water table ...
boken pipe repair causes zone 6 not to work	5/8/2007
Q: I patched up couple of pipes which I broke as a result of digging a trench in the lawn. This is a 6 ... A: There could be one more problem, that the electrical power to the valve is not connected or is ...
Hunter lAuto sprinkler system	5/6/2007
Q: I'm trying to turn my system on (had installer do it the previous two years) the indoor electric ... A: There is either a valve closed or your globe valves are shut off. To check the globe valves, adjust ...
Irrigation well pump	5/6/2007
Q: I have a 7 zone system with a STA Rite DS2 pump. When the system is operational the water is not a ... A: I can think of a couple of things that might be happening. One is that too many of your valves are ...
IRRIGATION START UP	5/6/2007
Q: WE WERE WONDERING IF WE CAN JSUT DO IT OURSELVES? IF SO HOW IS THE PROCEDURE DONE. THANK YOU! A: First, make sure that your irrigation controller (the timer) is on and is programmed to work. There ...
water sprinklers	5/5/2007
Q: I have started having a problem with my sprinklers not staying on when the program is running, they ... A: It sounds to me like there is a problem with the electrical current sent to the valves from the ...
Valve or cycle problems	5/5/2007
Q: Jeff - I have a 4 valve (8 station) sprinkler system. The 1st station comes on just fine; however, ... A: Usually if a valve continues to leak after it is supposed to turn off there are two causes. First, ...
Irrigation pump protection	5/3/2007
Q: I purchased a home with an installed irrigation system. It uses a pump fed by a pond. There are ... A: You could be in for a lot of problems if you try to split a system running off a pump. You would ...
Single zone not functioning with controller	5/1/2007
Q: I have a 8 zone setup. 8th zone added and was functioning till winter set last year. This year, I ... A: The knob is a manual bleed that turns on the valve without a signal from the controller. It is more ...
TWO sprinkler zones running at once	4/30/2007
Q: Jeff, please help. We had our yard tilled because of take all fungus. After the guys left, our ... A: Somehow the wire from the controller to the valves has been damaged or crosswired or something. The ...
Sprinkler working off well system	4/29/2007
Q: This is my first attempt at ever turning it on (sprinkler)and I opened (right near the well) a turn ... A: It sounds like the water is coming out of a drain or bypass that may be used for winterizing the ...
Irrigation pumps problem	4/28/2007
Q: I used my lawn sprinkler system on Thursday.....that night, the pump came on automatically. I had to ... A: Without knowing the particulars of your system, it is hard to say what the problem could be. The ...
sprinklers	4/28/2007
Q: After my automatic system runs it's cycle, two of the sprinklers in the front yard continue to spit ... A: One of your valves is not closing all the way, or is closing very slowly. Try adjusting the flow ...
Pump shuts off after 3 minutes	4/27/2007
Q: We have a GE pump (older model). 1.5 HP 220 watts that pumps water from the lake to water our lawn. ... A: Yes, it could be a relay, or a problem in the pump motor. Sometimes when the brushes on the motor ...
gutter drainage under new concrete Drive	4/27/2007
Q: I am pouring cement for an RV pad next to my garage. I have a gutter down spout on the corner of my ... A: You need to make sure that the oulet of the drain pipe is lower than the inlet, and that the water ...
Sprinler system	4/27/2007
Q: Only 4 out of 14 sprinkler zones work. I found that one of the inground boxes containing the valves ... A: Yes, it could be that water has got into the wire connections at the valve. Locate the connections ...
valves will not shut off	4/26/2007
Q: The valves on my system will not shut off regularly. They will work properly, then sometimes they ... A: Try adjusting the flow control on your valves. They may be open too much, which will cause them to ...
irrigation pump problem	4/26/2007
Q: I have a problem that I just cant figure out with my lawn irrigation system. I moved into a house ... A: If you have it narrowed down to the relay, it should be easy to fix---just take the one you have to ...
Pump shuts off after 3 minutes	4/25/2007
Q: We have a GE pump (older model). 1.5 HP 220 watts that pumps water from the lake to water our lawn. ... A: I take it that tthere is not a pressure tank on the system, that it pumps directly into the ...
Can't turn water off with Control Panel	4/24/2007
Q: I have a Rainbird ESP system and after the winter I turned the water back on using the main water ... A: If the controller is not changing the stations, as well as turning on stations and then not turning ...
irrigation pump problem	4/20/2007
Q: I have a problem that I just cant figure out with my lawn irrigation system. I moved into a house ... A: It really sounds like you have an electrical problem. If the pump comes on, or tries to come on, ...
well for irrigation	4/19/2007
Q: Hey Jeff, I'm looking to install underground on my property. There is an old well that served the ... A: Truthfully, you need to have a local well service person survey the situation an advise you. There ...
Sprinkler System	4/18/2007
Q: My sprinkler system worked very well on all four zones until recently. One of the four zones does ... A: There could be several causes. First, on the top of the valve there should be a knob that turns ...
Lawn Pump not producing enough water/pressure	4/14/2007
Q: I have a Sta-Rite DS2 model 1 1/2 HP Lawn Pump that is 5 yrs old that I have been trying to get ... A: There is either a restriction in the water line before the punp or after the pump. Assuming you ...
All zones work but one	4/14/2007
Q: I just turned my sprinkler system back on after being off all winter. All zones in the front yard ... A: It sounds like the valve for station 1 is either closed a little too much, or is not opening ...
pump will not stay running	3/25/2007
Q: I have a meyers pump with a 2 gallon bladder , have been trying to prime it for days now. it seems ... A: There are a whole lot of reasons that you could be having this problem. It sounds like you may have ...
shutoff valve access blocked with dirt	3/21/2007
Q: My home has an automated sprinkler system with a main shutoff valve that is located somewhere ... A: If you have access to a shop vac, that would be ideal. You'll also need a piece of 1" PVC pipe the ...
Locating control valves	3/18/2007
Q: I have a six zone system that was already installed when we bought our house. The previous owner ... A: Probably the most effective way would be to try to trace the wires from the controller out to the ...
Retaining Wall w/ Drainage	3/15/2007
Q: I have recently purchased a home on a side of a hill. Now I know the true importance of drainage ... A: Because every situation is different, you need to thoroughly research and design your drainage and ...
Drainage	3/11/2007
Q: There's an area in my backyard that fills up with about 2 inches of water every time it rains, it ... A: There are several ways to drain a wet area. The easiest is to raise the grade in the low spot so ...
well pump	3/8/2007
Q: I have a 2" diameter well pipe near the corner of my house with nothing connected to it. My neighbor ... A: Not knowing what you may be in store for, it may be best to consult with a local well service before ...
sprinkler system	2/15/2007
Q: After reading and asking around about water pressure and GPM, I find out that for my tiny backyard ... A: Some people put sprinklers right up next to the house, and if you have a slab foundation this is not ...
Toro Hydraulic Sprinkler System	1/22/2007
Q: Where the heck can you find parts? My system works fine but the hydraulic actuator valve now leaks ... A: Good luck finding parts. As far as I know they haven't made the controllers for 20 years if not ...
Drainage around garage	1/21/2007
Q: The back end of the garage is built into the garden. I am having problems with flooding at the rear ... A: Sorry about the delay, been really busy with the cold weather here in central CA. You need a ...
water leak, sprinkler system	12/29/2006
Q: HOA Condominium water bills for Oct/Nov excessively high. Water Utility Company records show ... A: If there is no leak detectable and the useage rate is the same as the prior year, then it would seem ...
Follow Up to 9/29 Question-Residential Water Draining Problem in Marysville Michigan.	11/25/2006
Q: Jeff, Thanks for answering my question on 9/29/06. Sorry you were feeling under the weather- -I ... A: I agree that it would be unlikely that the service line is leaking, if you have a water meter it is ...
dry well	11/23/2006
Q: I have a shallow well (13'). Usually the water gets low in the fall and sometimes we have none for ... A: This is not really my area of expertise, but I have a comment. I would think that since you have ...
control valve stuck on	11/6/2006
Q: Jeff, Our community has a 20 year old Rain Bird system utilizing solenoid controlled control ... A: Could be a couple of things. First, check the electrical connections to the valve (the wire nuts or ...
Lost prime from lake to pump head	10/30/2006
Q: I am working on a lake fed system that was working fine we cleaned out the vuflow shut it down went ... A: I would suspect that at the origin of the supply line (in the lake)there is a "foot valve" or some ...
irrigation	10/30/2006
Q: ------------------------------------------- i want to design a sprinkler or micro-sprinkler ... A: Your plan looks good. Being that you want to use micro-irigation, you will only need one valve for ...
irrigation	10/22/2006
Q: i want to design a sprinkler irrigation system of orchard(e.g the layout of trees in an orchard or ... A: I assume you mean a sprinkler or drip system. You will need to know what your water supply is and ...
Residential Sprinkler System/Water Draining Problem	9/29/2006
Q: HELP! I live in Marysville Michigan. My house is 9 years old. It is on CLAY- -Marysville is ... A: I am sorry if I overlooked you question, but I have been a little under the weather lately. Sounds ...
shallow well priming	9/26/2006
Q: The well is 16' deep and 42" of water in the tube and I can't get it to prime with a pitcher pump or ... A: The well pipe is not holding water for some reason. If you have a foot valve at the end (bottom) of ...
Installing small system	9/22/2006
Q: I have a area of grass beside a pool. Its about 50' long X 15 wide. It goes from the pool decking ... A: That should be OK, but I would use PVC pipe with glued fittings. They stand up to use better. ...
Toro ProStream Lawn Sprinkler head	9/13/2006
Q: How do I decrease the spraying distance on a Toro ProStream Lawn Sprinkler head? A: There should be a small screw on the top of the sprinkler, right above the nozzle that will reduce ...
pressure valves	9/12/2006
Q: I recently had outdoor sprinklers installed. When they are turned on the pipes shake and knock. Also ... A: This sort of thing can have several causes, but I would suspect in your case that the cause is that ...
sprinkler system repair	9/8/2006
Q: How many hours would you say it should take to install the garbage disposal and the sprinkler ... A: Based on my experiance with those items I would say 3-4 hours for the disposal, and 1-2 hours for ...
sprinkler system repair	9/8/2006
Q: I recently had to replace my 6 zone Rain Bird automatic sprinkler controller (RC-7Bi) The handyman ... A: I think this is very wrong. I believe that the cost of the controller and the garbage disposal ...
pump cycles on and off too quickly	9/8/2006
Q: 5hp) irrigation pump that just started to cycle on and off really quickly. Like less then 4 seconds ... A: I would suspect a problem with the pressure tank. If you have the type that has an air bladder ...
No water out of sprinkler heads	9/6/2006
Q: We have an underground sprinkler system that was working great until we had road work done. ... A: The problem sounds like it was caused by the work on the road. I will assume that the work crossed ...
irrigation	8/30/2006
Q: I am putting in a sprinkler irrigation in a 5 acre field using 2 inch PVC pipe, my risers will be 2 ... A: My first choice would be teflon tape, 3-4 wraps. The paste type sealants tend to have particles ...
irragation and drainage	8/20/2006
Q: I purchased a home about 2 years ago. The house was built in 1989 and sits on an average size lot. ... A: You are going to have to install a series of catch basins and drain lines that will take the water ...
Adjustment of K2 sprinkler heads	8/12/2006
Q: I had an area handyman (who is no longer in the area) replace some residential lawn sprinker heads, ... A: I got this off the Krain web site. Sorry about the delay, I thaought I had answered your question a ...
hammering irrigation system	8/6/2006
Q: When my irrigation system is running, it makes a loud and unpleasant hammering sound for the entire ... A: Water hammer is a condition caused when water in a plumbing system is subject to changes in velocity ...
Drain covers	8/3/2006
Q: Should drain covers be removable in order to faciliate cleaning out natural debris from the drain ... A: Yes, the drain covers need to be removable becuse the drains need regular maintenance to keep them ...
Shallow irrigation well	8/2/2006
Q: I have a shallow well used to run my lawn sprinklers. The watter flow from the well is adequate ... A: The problem seems to be that you have debris/sand in the well. The only permanent solution that I ...
Tempermental Irrigation System Auto Start up	7/30/2006
Q: Recently our irrigation system experiences sporatic loss of prime during automatic start-up in the ... A: Sorry about the delay, I had to be out of town for a few days and had no access to a computer. Your ...
Shallow well pumping sand	7/8/2006
Q: I had a shallow well jetted in last year around March. They left with a 2" PVC pipe with a PVC ... A: A couple of suggestions. If you are consistantly pumping sand, your suction line may be too low. ...
underground sprinklers	7/5/2006
Q: the pop ups in one of 4 sections in a complete watering cycle either 1) continue to water when the ... A: It sounds like you have a valve that is sticking open. This is a pretty commmon problem, and ...
Replacment Parts	7/4/2006
Q: Is there a source for replacment internal parts for an old Hardie Rain Jet 3/4" in-line valve? The ... A: It can be tough to find parts for this age of equipment, but it can be done. Depending on where you ...
Irrigation	6/28/2006
Q: I have a irragation well and pump. My pump operates fine, however, it sometimes loses pressure and ... A: I apologize for the delay in answering, but I have been in the hospital for emergency knee surgery. ...
PVC saddle T	6/6/2006
Q: You mentioned in one of your answers saddle T's. I have not had any success in the local sources ... A: I dont remember mentioning saddles in any of my answers, but I will try to help. In the yellow ...
well pump	6/2/2006
Q: The pump keeps on tripping the breaker. I turned the power off to the pump and there is no problem ... A: If the problem is not with the breaker, then it has to be in the pump. It could be as simple as ...
shallow well sphere	5/29/2006
Q: My husband and father dug a shallow well 4years ago to water our lawn & flower beds, since then the ... A: It is very possible that you have an obstruction somewhere in the system. Since you seem to have ...
high water table	5/12/2006
Q: I have a piece of land about 300ft by 1000ft. The water table is anywhere from 0 to 12", so there ... A: Maybe. It depends a lot on the soil structure and the grade of the plot. You will undoubtably get ...
Shallow well pump priming.	5/12/2006
Q: I have installed a shallow well for landscape irigation. The well is 24' deep and the water table ... A: I really dont see how the location of the backflow device would be an issue. Im assuming that you ...
Irregation equipment and supplies	5/10/2006
Q: My lawn irrigation system gets its water from a well. The well is 310' deep. The pump is located ... A: Unless you are drawing air or pumping the well dry, I dont think it is the water table. It is more ...
Irrigation equipment and supplies	4/27/2006
Q: Can you suggest an on line outlet for irrigation equipment that won't be as expensive as the local ... A: There are usually wholesale dealerships for irrigation supplies in most metropolitan areas who sell ...

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