Home-Wizard.com Guide to Automatic Sprinkler System Maintenance including free automatic reminders

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Interactive Home Maintenance Guide

To maintain the performance and useful life of your automatic lawn sprinkler system, it is important that your home maintenance program include the proper maintenance for your automatic lawn sprinkler system.

Your automatic lawn sprinkler system consists of sprinkler heads, underground pipes, and an electric control unit. Also see: Lawn Care.

Shown below are the two recommended routine maintenance tasks for your automatic lawn sprinkler system.

Learn to enjoy managing your home with our free Newsletter or our free Automatic Maintenance Reminders. We can also show you the Recommended Maintenance Schedules for your entire home.


		Maintenance Task #1: Winterize the system (cold climates)

		How do you winterize a lawn sprinkler system?
		This task involves using compressed air to remove all the water out of the automatic lawn sprinkler system, and shutting off the water supply and the control unit. If you decide to rent an air compressor to do this task yourself, then consult your user's manual for the correct operating procedure for your system.

		Why is it important to winterize a lawn sprinkler system?
		Water should be cleaned from sprinkler lines prior to the winter in any region of the country where freezing water temperatures may cause expansion cracking to the system (since water expands when it freezes).

		When should you winterize a lawn sprinkler system?
		The system should be winterized in October prior to potential freezing weather.

		How does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task?
		The cost of this task is moderately low. If you need to rent a suitable air compressor, it can add significantly to the time needed for this task. You may find that it is actually more cost effective to hire a sprinkler company to do this task for you.

		The benefits of this task are high. If you live in an area that gets below freezing in the winter, then you definitely need to do this task to prevent damage to your sprinkler system.

		Overall Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and four 'hats' = high):


		Maintenance Task #2: Prepare the system for use (cold climates)

		How do you prepare a lawn sprinkler system for seasonal use?
		This task involves: Opening the water supply. Checking each sprinkler head and any exposed lines for damage from the winter. Checking the water spray coverage for each sprinkler head Restarting the control unit.

		Why is it important to prepare a lawn sprinkler system for seasonal use?
		Preparation for operation.

		When should you prepare a lawn sprinkler system for seasonal use?
		Perform annually in April.

		How does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task?
		The cost of this task is moderately low. It is estimated that this task should take about 60 minutes to complete. You may need a specialized adjustment tool for re-adjusting your sprinkler heads. You may want to hire a professional sprinkler company to do this task for you.

		The benefits of this task is the effective use of your automatic sprinkler system.

		Overall Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and four 'hats' = high):

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS from "Ask-the-Wizard":

QUESTION from "artiesobc":

How do I winterize my lawn irrigation system using compressed air?

ANSWER:

artiesobc:

Have Here's a link to a website that does a fairly good job of describing the procedure for using compressed air to winterize your lawn sprinkler system:

http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/LawnCare/Winterblow.asp

Please note that blowing out your system can be potentially dangerous, and you should take adequate precautions to ensure proper eye safety and to avoid physical injury from flying debris. You need to also be careful not to over-pressure your system.

Hope this is helpful.
Home-Wizard.com
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QUESTION from smreed123 on 4/5/2008:

Gear driven rotary heads aren't rotating. Pressure is good. What needs to be done. I can turn head manually.

ANSWER FROM HOME-WIZARD.COM ON4/6/2008:

Dear smreed123:

What brand and model sprinkler heads do you have?

When you say "heads" is it more than one that is not operating? All of them not operating?

Home-Wizard.com
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