About James Grote Expertise Questions concerning irrigation, sprinkler systems, water pressure,backflow preventers, and drainage would be best. Questions about individual plants or shrubs are best left to others.
Experience
Past/Present clients Edward Jones Dome, Christian Hospitals, Barnes-Jewish Hosptials,St. Anthony's Hospital, St.Lukes Hospital Bellerive Country Club, Normandy Golf Course, Emerson Electric, and residential.
Question In the past month a new irrigation system has been installed in my yard. My home is about 3 years old and we have never had any plumbing problems. There is a backflow preventer.
Everything is up and running and seems to be fine except when the irrigation system turns on and off there is a very loud shuddering sound which has been referred to as water hammer. The sound is some pipes vibrating that are near my water heater and near my main water line. I have never heard this sound before the irrigation was installed.
My irrigation people have been trying to repair the problem ( although I haven't seen a real plumber around yet) and just installed some valve that absorbs vibration they said. It didn't work.
They said now they will send a plumber.
The owner of the landscaping company implied the problem could have something to do with my home plumbing. I think it seems very suspect that he is taking a defensive tone and reminded him the problem never existed until they installed this system.
He said my water pressure is very high ( we live in a new neighborhood where there is construction going on ).
Any advice for handling this situation would be helpful.
Thank you, Jennifer
Answer Jennifer,
I trust that the company that put the thing in will get it fixed. The air chamber should have fixed it. If you can ask them what the water pressure is exactly on the sprinkler system that might give me a clue. The water pressure on the sprinklers is going to be higher than the house pressure because they usually tap into the water line before the pressure reducing valve for the house. If it is over 100psi it is way too much and they should put a pressure reducer on the sprinkler system on the input leg of the backflow and adjust it so your running pressure is less than 80 psi. 80 psi is the maximum suggested operating pressure for the components of the sprinkler system. It will probably solve the hammer problem because the water be moving as fast and will make your heads and valves last a lot longer.
Jim
