Not if you don’t mind changing them every 6-12 months. You can get really cheap budget sprinklers for $1-5, but as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. We only use Toro sprinkler bodies which have excellent seals, springs and general construction. Generally you can expect 7-10 years from a Toro which in the longer term is much better economy.
Read MoreThis is a common question. And the answer is usually very simple. Generally speaking this happens when more than one start time is set. Unless there is a watering exemption in place you are only allowed to water once a day which means you only need one start time. Often people get ‘start times’ and ‘run times’ mixed up. So get this : YOU ONLY NEED 1 START TIME! Most errors are made when people set 5.00am as a start time, then 5.15, 5.30 and so on. So when you set your controller make note of which function you are […]
Read MoreA common misconception is that retic should run for 10 minutes. NOT SO! You are allowed to apply 10mls of water on your watering day. This is where the confusion comes from. 10ml not 10min! So different nozzles require different run times. Normal Toro – 10-15 minutes MP Rotators – 45-60 minutes Gear drives – 20-40 minutes (The difference is related to the spacing between the sprinklers.) But don’t buy the 10 minutes thing!
Read MoreNope… 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!
Read MoreIf your retic doesn’t come on then it will usually be one of a few common problems. 1. The controller is faulty. If there is a display on the controller then it is less likely that this is the issue, but it could be a faulty terminal or circuit board. 2. The master solenoid has seized. It has got stuck shut and needs replacing. 3. There is a broken wire to the master solenoid or a broken common wire. If you have done some digging in the yard then you may have accidentally struck wires. They are only 24v so […]
Read MoreIf your solenoid looks like this then don’t be surprised if it’s not functioning as it should be. Any solenoid buried in soil should be covered by a valve box otherwise corrosion is inevitable. If you find your controller is blowing fuses or showing error messages then this may be the problem.
Read MoreSometimes your retic fails and you just can’t be bothered fixing it… If that is the case then chances are that after a season or two roots will have infested the system and we will have to hey them out before it will work again. Like anything in life – the longer you leave it the more costly and time consuming it is to repair. So if you’ve been delaying on that fix you know that you need then give us a call now!
Read MoreIf 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 […]
Read MoreIf you want to achieve maximum water efficiency then there is no question that Netafim Dripline is your friend! Here is a job I did recently in Yanchep where new native plants had been installed and the client wanted to ensure minimal wastage of water. Now that the Dripline is in he can mulch the area. If you are on a bore then you may like to consider ‘bore line ‘, similar but not pressured compensated – which usually isn’t an issue on a bore. This dripline is extremely effective at dripping water right next to the plants and is […]
Read MoreYesterday I went to try and sort out why the retic pipe kept bursting on a bore in Ridgewood. Usually there is an obvious answer. The first step was a new controller and then a check that the solenoids were all opening as they should have been. All good there. I dug a hole and found two 25mm pipes going to the rear yard – but with no water coming out of the sprinklers. I drilled small holes at various points along the pipes and water cane out. Hmmm… water is definitely getting thru, is there a blockage somewhere? Has […]
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