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Drip Irrigation Tutorial
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Basics - Tips
Head Assembly
- Watch your thread combinations!! Make sure you put together the same kinds of threads. These can be pipe thread or hose thread. These two types are not compatible and one will strip out if forced together.
- Check the water flow direction on each component! Water must flow in the correct direction for most items to work at all. Items that should be mounted in a certain direction will be marked somewhere on the body.
- Use only Teflon tape to seal connections.
- Only use Teflon tape on components where neither one has an "O" ring or rubber washer.
- Do not over tighten! Hand tight should be just fine on most items.
- Test for water flow on the head assembly before connecting to the polytube.
- Head assemblies will leak some water. Head assemblies are not recommended for indoor use unless drainage is provided in case of leakage or component failure!!!
- Any head assemblies connected directly to a hose bib/hose faucet should be supported by something to help keep the weight of the assembly and water inside it from breaking a component. Check our valve assemblies for connecting with a hose.
Filtration
- Clean the screen inside the filter as often as needed. Having too much debris on the screen will hinder the water flow or block it completely.
- With extremely dirty water you might need to use multiple filters. For example, you would start with a course filter to gather the large debris, and then use a filter with a more fine mesh screen to collect smaller pieces of dirt. In some cases this may not even work and you should check into an automatic flushing filter. Contact us for more information.
- Use only Teflon tape for the threaded connections.
- On filters with a 3/4" MHT (Male Hose Thread) flush cap you can replace the cap with our A020 Ball Valve . This makes it easy to flush the filter. All of our stock filters have the MHT cap. For non-stock you will need to check the model for the correct thread type.
- Filters can be mounted in any orientation, up, down or sideways. To flush the best when using the flush cap, more dirt will be expelled if the filter body is facing down.
- Make sure the water flow is in the same direction as the arrow on the filter.
- To clean the filter screen, try using an old toothbrush while rinsing under clean water.
- If you place fertilizer inside the filter, make sure to clean the screen after the fertilizer has been used up. The fertilizer will leave some residue on the screen.
- Always make sure to drain the filter before any winter freezes!
Drippers
- It does not matter how drippers are mounted on the polytube but we have found that mounting them on the side works best. Having them on the side allows for water to spill out easy and keeps hard water deposits from collecting as quickly. It also allows you to visually see the water flow which makes inspection easier. If you mount the dripper on the bottom facing into the dirt it could allow for dirt to get into the dripper.
- If your drippers squeak on start up it is just the air in the system escaping.....nothing to worry about.
- Always follow the maximum line length charts for the drippers you use. Going beyond these parameters will give you poor performance from the drippers.
- Drippers are color coded for flow rates. This allows you to easily see what flow rates you have installed.
- If you have elevation differences on your system use the pressure compensating (PC) model drippers. If the elevation differences are major you need to check the pressures at different elevations. The pressures need to be within the drippers pressure rating for them to work correctly. If the pressures are too great you may need to split your system into zones of smaller elevation differences.
- Try not to space drippers closer than 12" apart on 1/2" polytube.
Microsprinklers
- When installing microsprinklers, try to have the system installed and working. With the water turned off install your first microsprinkler. Turn the water back on and see exactly how much area it covers. From this point you will have a much better idea of the spacing needed on the remaining sprinklers. We like to install about three or four after the first and then turn the system back on to test the coverage. Remember you can always move them later if needed by plugging the hole with a SF007 Goof Plug .
- Take care when placing sprinklers so they will not be blocked by future growth of plants right next to them.
- We suggest using the thicker walled tubing of .160 x .270 like our T008. This helps hold the sprinkler better.
- Try to always place sprinklers facing away from buildings, fences and walls so these objects won't be stained by the water over time.
- If using sprinklers in larger potted plants face the sprinkler downward using a S001 clip stake.
- Check that you purchase the correct stake for the sprinkler you will be using.
- Wind can affect the spray from microsprinklers. Try to water during a part of the day when there is normally no or very little wind.
Controllers
- Follow all the instructions provided for programming and maintenance.
- Take inside during harsh winter weather. This applies only to areas where it freezes.
- Batteries can last over 1 year and sometimes up to two years. We suggest replacing them every year......we do it for the health of our plants!
- Batteries will last depending on how often the controller cycles on and off valves. More cycles equals less battery life, fewer cycles equals more battery life.
- Make sure to keep all covers closed.
- If you have a multiple zone controller you can cover the wire connections with Vaseline to repel any moisture. This is the single best thing you can do to extend the life of the controller. The battery compartment has an "O" ring to seal it so these connections do not need any Vaseline. Single station controllers have no connections outside the sealed areas and need nothing applied.
Valves
- Install a filter before the valves.
- If your valve works fine for an extended period of time and then stops it may need to be cleaned. If you take it apart to be cleaned make sure to use the exploded drawing provided in the instructions or on our web site. There are many small pieces and "O" rings which must be installed correctly for the valve to work.
- If your yellow puppet inside the bayonet has come out and you are not sure which direction it goes back just remember that the spring side faces downward or toward the valve.
- The small clips on the side of the puppet are to hold it in during assembly and can be used or not, it will not affect the operation.
- The biggest single reason for a valve not working after reassembley is because of a missing "O" ring between the bayonet and the valve. This "O" ring is very small so be careful!
Fertilizer Applicators
- Please follow all directions supplied with your unit. Small details matter with these products.
- Always install the fertilizer applicator AFTER a backflow device!
- Only use 100% water soluble fertilizer.
Soaker Tape & Dripper Line
- On long lines of soaker tape stake down the mainline and the line end to keep it from snaking due to expansion and contraction.
- Use good filtration and consider using a flush valve on line ends to increase the life span of drippers.
Misting
- Use a minimum of a 200 mesh filter screen for misting systems.
- Try to mount misters high enough so the mist does not fall directly onto people. You want the mist to evaporate before falling on someone.
- Try to mount misters on the perimeter of an area to be cooled.
- The humidity in your area will define how well a misting system works to cool an area. Places with high humidity will not have as great a cooling effect as places with very low humidity.
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