|
|
|
Irrigation Installation and
Maintenance
New Irrigation Installation Materials
and Methods that Save Time and Money
By Mark J. Donovan
|
|
Installing an irrigation system is one of the best things you can do to keep
your lawn healthy and looking beautiful. However irrigation installation can
be difficult to do and is usually quite expensive. In addition, irrigation
maintenance can also be quite time consuming and involves, for example, some
special equipment for blowing out the tubing when closing the system down
for the winter. Moreover the repair of broken irrigation risers is a common
problem.
This said recent improvements in materials and methods have simplified
irrigation installation, maintenance and repair issues. |
A typical irrigation installation involves a combination of PVC pipe, electrical
wiring, valves and controllers and a lot of digging. Fixing broken irrigation
risers is one of the most common repair jobs with irrigation systems. With new
materials and repair methods there are better ways today to reduce the risk of
damaging them and fixing them more quickly, in the event they do get damaged.
For example, simply by staking the riser with a piece of rebar you can help to
prevent damaged shrub risers. Alternatively, others have encased the pop-up
risers in concrete sleeves.
|
|
In regards to repairing damaged irrigation risers there a variety of
flexible polyethylene plastic threaded nipples on the market today that be
modified on the jobsite to repair cracked or broken risers. They’re also
available in PVC and rubber as well, each with their own unique benefits in
terms of cost and flexibility.
In regards to risers that are located in places where there is a propensity
for frequent damage there are new products on the market today that can be
used during the irrigation installation process to prevent the risers from
becoming damaged down the road.
|
There are single assembly risers today, for example, that have swing joints that
aid in reducing the amount of time to install the riser and the threat of it
becoming damaged over time.
Another major irrigation maintenance issue is replacing lost irrigation riser
heads. Often they are stolen due to the fact that they are expensive to replace.
There are head-lock solutions on the market today that come in a variety of
diameters that make it nearly impossible for someone to unscrew it and run off
with it. These head-lock solutions involve the use of male and female threaded
components that make it nearly impossible to screw one end off. To remove a
head-lock riser requires a shovel, a couple of wrenches, and about 15 minutes of
effort, which is just enough of a hassle to prevent a would-be-thief from
stealing one.
For installing irrigation systems or making irrigation repairs to the lateral
lines, there are a variety of compression fittings today that can be used to
help speed up the process. They come in a plethora of styles and sizes, so there
is bound to be a solution for your damaged irrigation system. There are slip
adapters, threaded adapters, and compression tees, for example, just to name a
few types of compression fittings. There are even some telescoping compression
fittings that only require a couple of wrenches and glue to make a quick repair.
In regards to irrigation system tubing, the sun’s ultraviolet light played havoc
on old PVC tubing. The old PVC tubing became brittle and cracked over time.
Likewise, old galvanized metal tubing used in irrigation systems inevitably
corroded over time. Today there is brownline PVC that holds up much better to
the effects of ultraviolet light and will not corrode.
So those are just some of the new irrigation installation and maintenance
products on the market today that can make your irrigation system more
functional and less of a hassle, and most importantly keeping your lawn looking
beautiful.
|
Find a Qualified Landscape Contractor in Your Area |
|
Get Free Quotes. Easy, Quick and No
Obligations!
For the home improvement or home remodeling project that is
too big for you, check out our partner
NeedContractor. They are a national
resource for finding pre-screened, insured, and licensed home improvement and remodeling contractors in your local area.
|
|
|
Get Matched in 48 hours with Landscape Contractors! |
Planning to have a Brick or Paver Walkway Installed
by a Landscaping Contractor
but not sure what questions to ask to ensure you hire the right one? See HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Brick and Paver Walkway Bid Sheet. The
Brick and Paver Walkway Bid Sheet
will help ensure that your walkway project goes smoothly and you get the
finished walkway you are looking for.
How to Finance your
New Home Project
- LendingTree's
Home Equity Loans
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if
financing is required.
Related
Articles
Lawn Irrigation Solutions from Amazon.com
|
|
|
