r/Irrigation • • 4d ago

OUT with the OLD and in with the NEW 💦

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13 Upvotes

r/Irrigation • • 4d ago

Seeking Pro Advice Best way to fix a broken irrigation tap saddle.

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2 Upvotes

I'm dealing with a broken clamp-on saddle/tap valve on my 1" poly main line and want to make sure I fix it correctly without leaks. I have a few specific questions regarding the best approach:

Same Puncture: Is it okay to line up a new fitting with the existing perforated hole, or will the seal be compromised since these are meant to be punctured once?

New Hole + Plug: If I install a new fitting on a fresh section of the pipe, what kind of plug should I use to safely seal the old perforated hole?

Threaded Elbow: Can I cut a thread directly into the poly pipe wall and screw in an elbow fitting?

Cut-in Reducing Tee: Would the most reliable, permanent fix be cutting the 1" line entirely and installing a proper 1" x 1" x 1/2" reducing tee (1" main run on each end with a 1/2" perpendicular run)?
What is the gold standard for fixing this setup? Thanks


r/Irrigation • • 4d ago

Prv identification

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1 Upvotes

Anyone recognize this 1 1/4 prv? Would be nice just to swap it out without re- plumbing.


r/Irrigation • • 4d ago

Drip Irrigation Tips

0 Upvotes

Hi there!

I've been installing drip irrigation for 3 years now and was wondering if anyone has any tips? Mainly for inserting the barbed pieces (especially in the winter).

I use the toro 3/4" line and barbed fittings.

Thanks!


r/Irrigation • • 4d ago

Seeking Pro Advice Water pump doesn’t turn off once triggered.

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1 Upvotes

r/Irrigation • • 4d ago

2 185s

1 Upvotes

Would connecting 2x 185s to a sports field at the same connection point give more air or will they compete with one another. 4inch main. 3inch laterals 15-18 12gpm heads a zone. 12 zones. Essentially would it give 300+cfm ? Has anyone done this before.


r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

Check This Out Just got a call to repair this stinker

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30 Upvotes

City told the customer that her backflow is leaking and it has to be replaced, posthaste, or they will lock her meter and fine her. Should be easy-peasy once I get the concrete out the way. 🤦🏻‍♂️


r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

advice ?

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7 Upvotes

started messing with the sprinkler system after living here for 3 years because wife wants a yard like her retired dad. this is part of zone 3 out of 6. zone 4 has same issue (flooding yard in the spot i suspect there’s another busted pipe) but i haven’t dug that one up yet. cheers for midweek beers this lawd daddy stuff is actually fun 🍻

there is also a head under the middle of my deck in the backyard if anyone needed and extra laugh at my situation 😂


r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

Has anyone actually saved water after installing a smart irrigation controller?

6 Upvotes

I keep looking at them but can’t tell if they’re genuinely useful or just another smart-home gadget. Did you notice much difference in your watering or water bill?


r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

Looking for a high flow garden hose timer.

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3 Upvotes

r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

Seeking Pro Advice Sprinkler heads losing pressure intermittently?

6 Upvotes

Anybody have any guesses on what’s causing the pressure to cycle like that?


r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

Seeking Pro Advice Advice request: protecting irrigation during fiber optic install

2 Upvotes

Hi all,

Homeowner who has maintained his own irrigation system for about 15 years. Unfortunately I live in an area of PA where there is no one within a 2-hour drive who does irrigation and no one beyond that distance who is interested in coming this far. So I've gotten pretty good at rotor replacements, replacing/rebuilding valves, coupling damaged laterals, and I even do my own winterizations with a rented 185 cfm compressor each year. Not claiming to be an expert, but I've done what I've needed to keep the system going. System is entirely poly from the main valve onward.

This past spring one of the utilities came through and did a fiber optic install. For better or worse, I have about 6 rotors in the 15' utility easement by the road, as well as the laterals and flex lines passing through that area. Ultimately there was no issue because they did a deep directional bore across the property and didn't hit anything. I was able to speak with the foreman beforehand.

Much to my surprise, another utility is coming through to install fiber option again. Not a great time - October in PA - system is already blown out and any damage to either irrigation or turf won't be fixable until the spring. This company is supposed to be pulling through existing conduit, but they claim a lot of the conduit doesn't exist or has failed after two decades. They are bringing in a bunch of crews to knock out the installation before the winter. Sounds like they might use vibratory plows to install, which is certain to shred poly piping. Sounds also like they are rushing to get through it.

Looking for any advice as to how I can ensure they minimize damage and how I can easily repair what they do damage in the spring. I'm guessing since it's an easement, I just need to let it happen and deal with any impacts on my own. I've already flagged the heads, but I don't really know how the laterals/flex lines run.

Thanks!


r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

This is the way

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27 Upvotes

🙆🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️😆


r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

Adapter question

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1 Upvotes

r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

Warm Climate New DR Horton builds are using only drip line

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0 Upvotes

r/Irrigation • • 5d ago

Daisy chain sprinklers

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1 Upvotes

How can I connect 2 x sprinklers to create a dasiy chain, the items are advertised as allowing this function but I'm sure I will need a specific attachment to allow the sprinklers to daisy chain?

Any help is appreciated.


r/Irrigation • • 6d ago

Please help identify

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3 Upvotes

This valve has failed and I'm trying to identify the manufacturer and model number. In the past, I purchased the entire valve and replaced the top. In this case I can't find the valve. It's different than the others in my yard.


r/Irrigation • • 6d ago

What is this that is leaking water?

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3 Upvotes

What is this that is leaking water and is it something I can DIY replace? My sprinkler system is off at the control box, so surprised it is leaking water to be honest


r/Irrigation • • 6d ago

Seeking Pro Advice Winterizing Irrigation System

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3 Upvotes

Attempting to winterize my home irrigation system myself rather than spent the $500 for a yearly contract. I’ve done it in the past with no issues, however the new system that was installed a year ago (which included a complementary year of service) seems to not be as straight forward.

I’ve closed the first valve so the hose will still work if needed for now, and have tried opening either of the valves to shoot my air compressor through to clear the lines of any water. Yes, have gone through zone by zone to clear the lines before myself.

Problem being that when I am using the air compressor all my air is just coming out of the vacuum breaker rather than going down the line. What is the solve?


r/Irrigation • • 6d ago

Cold Climate Proper manifolds. Unions for the next guy

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7 Upvotes

r/Irrigation • • 7d ago

What Were They Thinking?! Please Don't Do This

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31 Upvotes

Customer had 'some guy the neighborhood recommended' install a replacement PVB. She luckily had a master valve before it (even if that should've been an iso), so when it popped, it wasn't a constant leak, but all her run times were 30 minutes and she only called us after her lawn died, so it probably was why her water bill was so high. I used the same PVB for replacement after inspecting it for any issues, just replacing the PVC/legs (all the way down to ground for good measure), but that's not exactly the right glue for PVC lol. Please don't use CPVC glue on PVC, especially not on the backflow preventer!


r/Irrigation • • 6d ago

Winterizing sprinklers and heads won’t pop up

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5 Upvotes

We blow out our sprinklers every year and have never had this problem before. We blew out 7 of our 13 zones and then the heads stopped popping up and air is coming out of the PVB. We have a pretty big air compressor. Using 30-45 PSI, tried increasing it but did not change anything. Not sure what else to try.


r/Irrigation • • 6d ago

Seeking Pro Advice Confused about sprinkler systems' wiring combination and fix after a day of heavy rain

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3 Upvotes

TLDR: I think the fix is to just strip and rewire the colors to communication wire but am not sure on the combination.

Just last week, my automated sprinkler system stopped working on all zones after a heavy day of rain.

So far I know that:

  • The actual electronic sprinkler system has power and does work (Orbit) and has retained all my setting start times, run times, and the schedule.
  • All wires for all stations are connected properly into the terminal and are secure.
  • All sprinkler stations work when turned on manually at the solenoid.
  • Rain sensor was turned on when I first checked. The photo shows it in off and the system still doesn't respond (with shine or rain)
  • The main sprinkler water valve works perfectly fine. (i.e. shuts off water when turned off, vice versa)

I looked at the wiring and while the system is old and has been with the house since 2010, the wires look frazzled but then again, I feel like they've always looked like that whenever I trim the trees just right next to it.

At least right now, I don't think this will need a complete rewiring but I also don't have a multimeter to measure it at the moment.

Looking at the wires again, I actually don't know which combination is which for each electrical nut.

When I first checked, all the caps were off but the bundles were still connected by the twist-ties.

I do know that the white communications wire should be connected to all stations, and since all stations don't work, would that mean just the white wire needs to be fixed?

I attached photos as best I could to show the situation I'm dealing with.

Thank you all in advance!


r/Irrigation • • 6d ago

Seeking Pro Advice Dry fit hack?

2 Upvotes

A 3/4" PVC fitting has a socket depth of about 1".
And once it's primed and glued, the pipe will pretty much bottom out.
But when dry fitting, it won't come close to that, and if it does, it will be like trying to get two nested 5 gallon buckets separated.
Are the any hacks? Or just measure it?


r/Irrigation • • 7d ago

Question about drip layout

3 Upvotes

Aloha from Maui,

I have a tropical plant garden I'm putting some drip lines in and had a question about layout. The garden is about 30ft long and 6 ft in depth and butts up against a fence. I have a 1/2 supply line running against the fence at the back of the planter.

I'd like to have a valve to some parts of the garden as some parts need less water than others.

Should I run 1/4 off this supply line? Or should I place a T in the supply line every 10 feet with a short length of supply line which has the 1/4 lines connected to that? A valve would be at the beginning of each of these supply line spurs to control flow.