DIY Irrigation Tune-up - Part two

This week we are going through the steps in giving your irrigation system a tune-up.  We started with steps 1 & 2 yesterday and today we are going to tackle steps 3 & 4.

Step 3:  Clean and Adjust Spray-Type Sprinklers

To Clean:

Spray-type sprinklers are the sprinklers that create a fixed fan-shaped spray pattern.  Start by removing the nozzle from each head and cleaning the screen.  The screen will be under the nozzle, you may need a bent paperclip to use as a hook to pull it out.  A toothbrush works well for cleaning the filter.  Reinstall the filter and put the nozzle back on. 

Next you need to look for any partially blocked nozzles by turn on each sprinkler and look for any uneven gaps in the fan spray of water.  If you find some are blocked, you will need to remove the nozzle and either replace it or carefully clean it.   To clean plastic nozzles use a toothpick to clean it - be careful not to scratch the nozzle as one scratch can ruin the spray pattern.

To Adjust:
On top of each spray nozzle is a small radius adjustment screw.  Turn the screw to adjust each sprinkler so they don't spray onto sidewalks or walls.  When sprinklers are properly spaced,  the water from each sprinkler should spray all the way to the next sprinkler in each direction.  If the heads are creating a lot of mist try partially closing the adjustment screws (clockwise). 

Step 4:  Clean and Adjust  Rotor type Sprinklers

To Clean:
Rotor type sprinklers are sprinklers that have a stream of water that rotates over the landscape.  We don't recommend cleaning the filters on your rotor-type sprinkler heads.  The filters require disassembling the head and most likely will result in more dirt getting into the head than you started with. 

To Adjust:
For rotor sprinklers, turn the radius adjustment screw clockwise just until it touches the water stream, followed by turning the screw counter-clockwise just until it is not touching the stream. This is the best position for the screw, and should be left there in most cases. It may take a few tries to find the best amount of adjustment for the screws. If the screw is too far into the water stream, it can cause dry areas, whereas if it is not in far enough, the pressure can be too great. You should always check the water pressure to make sure it is where it needs to be. Overgrown grass and shrubs can easily block areas of the sprinkler causing the water pressure to be compromised.