Nope…
If your reticulation isn’t working then changing the battery will just be $9 down the drain.
The battery is not responsible for the operation of the sprinklers. It simply helps to retain the settings when the power goes off.
Your retic needs 24v if power to open the solenoids so changing a battery wont do the job.
If it’s not working then it could be any one of a number of issues – but it won’t be the battery!
If you see water running down your street like this from the sprinkler at the bottom of the hill then it means you have at least one leaky solenoid.
The next step is to locate the correct solenoid and change it over. We can do this quickly with our solenoid detector and we can generally get the location perfect which minimises the digging in your lawn.
Here you can see we have been able to pinpoint the faulty valve.
Then once the valve is exchanges we test it and make sure all is working as it should be.
And just for good measure we go back to the sprinkler that was causing the problem and ensure it is no longer weeping.
Problem solved!
Like everything in life, the preparation matters!
When laying turf it matters to:
– get a good thick layer of quality soil
– ensure your retic covers all areas
– screed the ground to dead level
– spread fertiliser
– water the ground
Then lay turf…
If you do all of the above you can expect an excellent result. If not then it may turn out lumpy or it may not have the same vigorous start that new lawn needs
Every irrigation has a common wire that connects all of the solenoids together and in most cases it is a black wire, as this is the colour most commonly used.
The common wire is found in the ‘c’ terminal and is vital to the systems operation.
If a common wire gets cut then all of the solenoids that it connects together will be out of action.
Its usual to have one strand of multi core wire serving the front of a house and another strand serving the rear, so if you find that all of your rear solenoids have stopped working then chances are your common wire will have been cut or broken.
From there it just a matter of tracking it and repairing it.
It’s what we do.
We can often get a whole house done in a day, like this one up in Two Rocks that we did this week.
If you have an established lawn then our trencher will cut thru it and we will get the new system installed neatly and quickly. We can supply soil to fill those trenches and get everything looking clean and tidy at the end.
So if you’re looking for a new system then give us a call! Generally we will discuss the project with you on the phone, give you a ballpark price range and then if we are working from the same budget then we will come out and meet you onsite to talk thru the job more carefully and work out what you need.
Everyone has their personal favourite. Some like the hardy but soft leaf type of buffalo – the Sir Walter in the picture above or Palmetto are the two most popular.
These are beautiful lawns and if looked after will really increase the value of your home.
Wintergreen is also a very nice lawn but with a finer leaf. The down side to wintergreen is its invasive nature, so you need to make sure your garden beds are protected as this lawn will get into them and if it is left unchecked will be very hard to get rid of.
Velveteen is a fine leaf couch but a bit more dense than wintergreen. It’s said that it is best for homes near the ocean, but I tend to feel that any lawn that is looked after will look good whether it’s close to the ocean or not.
The other that is very popular is Empire zoysia a mid sized leaf and a deep emerald green. If you are a lawn fanatic and willing to do the work to look after it then this is the lawn for you.
If you just want a lawn that will take care of itself then kikuyu may be the best choice for you!
If your sprinklers are barely spraying then it will be one of a few issues.
The most likely is that the system has a leak and pressure is getting released at a point other than the nozzles. Most likely is that a riser has broken and needs replacing.
Another possibility is that all nozzles are blocked. Rather than trying to unblock them you’re probably better off just replacing them.
Another possibility is that the solenoid has seized and is partially shut. This is the least likely option.
So
a) check for leaks around the base of sprinklers.
b) remove a nozzle and check to see if there is good water pressure.
c) if neither of the above resolve the issue then you may need to check out the solenoid.
By a process of deduction you should be able to find the problem!
If you ever find yourself in a situation where one of the wires to your solenoids has broken and you either can’t be bothered or are unable to find the break then ‘add a station’ is your friend!
By using this device you can make one power wire serve two solenoids, meaning you can either add a solenoid in a space where there is no access for new wires, or you can keep a solenoid operational by using the add a station on the functioning wire.
It’s saved a lot of people over the years and is one of the most useful retic devices I have come across.
Yeah you can.
But the pipes get crusty with sand and they are harder to cut and keep clean.
The green retic glue will still work even with a little water on it so you don’t need the two surfaces perfectly dry and clean – although that is preferable.
The biggest challenge of rainy days is definitely the sand that sticks to the pipes but just carry a towel and wipe the ends before joining and it should be fine!
I often get called to go in and fix the retic after the bobcat has been thru and done his work.
Today I was in Butler and the bobcat had smashed thru the main line, broken the wiring as well as ripping up most of the pipe down one side of the rear. It didn’t help that the area was full of roots and that the client wasn’t completely sure on where he wanted things to go… Add to that a 3 hour deadline and intermittent rain and it was potentially a difficult day.
But we got the main line repaired and wires reconnected. Then we worked together on the sprinklers to the rear and by 10.50am we were done.
It’s impossible to quote a job like this as you simply can’t estimate a cost when you don’t know how much damage is done. Fortunately it wasn’t too bad today and with two of us going hard we managed to get it ready for turf in a couple of days time.
Everything is fixable! It just takes time and patience as you track down the breaks and leaks.