How To Get Your Retic Ready For Summer

Is your retic ready for Summer?

While your retic isn’t being used during winter, your sprinkler nozzles can become blocked with dirt or even ants. Blocked nozzles water inefficiently, waste precious water, and they also cause dry, patchy spots on your lawn if you’re not watching for them. It’s common for nozzles to be damaged from time to time due to foot or vehicle traffic. Replacing these is a necessity before setting up your watering schedule to get your retic ready for Summer!

Let’s look at the obvious things first…

STEP 1: Inspect your risers and nozzles

Check for any obvious damage and/or dirt that could cause potential blockages.

STEP 2: Flush the system

Run each station for one or two minutes and take the time to walk around and inspect each sprinkler to make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be!

STEP 3: Replace any damaged pop up nozzles

Pop up nozzles are usually at ground level and can be subject to all sorts of damaging beasts such as lawn mowers, vehicles, foot traffic, animals… Yeah, all that. You can grab some new pop up nozzles at your local retic store, or give a professional a call to come and sort them out for you.

 

Things to look out for:

Sprinklers

Have you got a wayward sprinkler that’s spouting water out at odd angles or where the ground around it is all soggy? Chances are something is broken. First of all though, have a good look to see if dirt has clogged your sprinkler head.

It could be that simple.

 

Pipes

Splits in ageing pipes are a common reticulation problem.

• Blockages happen, especially after winter when ants or sediment can build up in the pipes, are common.
• It’s always best to flush out your irrigation every couple of weeks even during winter to keep your pipes clean and clear.

 

Drippers

Drippers are definitely one of the most efficient ways to water your garden, as long as they’re working correctly! Be sure to keep an eye on them to check:

• They haven’t exploded or simply popped off – high water pressure will do this.
• The rubber hasn’t perished – It will look all split if you give it a little squeeze.
• Check for blockages – Flushing your system regularly helps to keep this in check and shouldn’t be too much of an issue during Summer.

 

Solenoids

These are generally hidden away underground. But, if you can see trickling water coming out of your sprinkler and that station is off, there’s a good chance you have a blocked solenoid valve. Unless you’re experienced with these, I’d be leaving this one to the retic pros.

 

One last thing:

Is your retic system not turning on at all? Check you haven’t got a flat battery in your controller! It can be so easy to overlook.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CURRENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM INSPECTED & TESTED FOR TOTAL PEACE OF MIND!

We’re here to help and would love to be part of your lawn and gardens return to health and to make sure that you’ve got your retic ready for Summer! Contact Us Here!