Low Pressure on all Zones
If your system has low pressure on multiple or all of the zones than there are only a few possible causes. You either have a break on every zone (very unlikely), a leak on the mainline, an increased gpm demand has been put on the system due to someone added improper nozzles, or it is your main water source which includes the well & pump.
If your system is on a well & pump and uses and index valve, there will be a very short amount of mainline pipe. This will be above ground and you'll see if there are any breaks on this. If you inspect the yard with the system running and do not find any broken lines, then the chances are that you just need a new pump and a well cleaning.
I always check the date codes of pumps. There are metal plates with serial numbers on most older housings on pumps and there are also serial numbers with date codes on the electric motors. Once a pump is more than 10 years old, it will start to get caked up with well debris which is hard to get off, especially with the maze of small ports on jet pumps. A new pump should give you a significant volume and pressure increase as long as you have a good well.
The well screens get clogged over timer and should be cleaned. You can do this by using a product called "New Well" and it is safe for the environment. Let the Well Cleaner sit overnight to 24 hours. I also then use 20 - 60ft (depending on depth of well) of 3/4" pipe with a boring tip on the bottom to help pressure wash or clean off the screens. This process normally work very well, although I have had a few that are beyond repair and must have new wells drilled. But I would say about 95% of wells can be cleaned successfully.
With the combination of a well cleaning and a new pump (as long as there are no other well problems such as a craked pipe and/or massive vaccume leak) you will notice a great improvement in the performance of your system.
Scott Young
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
If your system is on a well & pump and uses and index valve, there will be a very short amount of mainline pipe. This will be above ground and you'll see if there are any breaks on this. If you inspect the yard with the system running and do not find any broken lines, then the chances are that you just need a new pump and a well cleaning.
I always check the date codes of pumps. There are metal plates with serial numbers on most older housings on pumps and there are also serial numbers with date codes on the electric motors. Once a pump is more than 10 years old, it will start to get caked up with well debris which is hard to get off, especially with the maze of small ports on jet pumps. A new pump should give you a significant volume and pressure increase as long as you have a good well.
The well screens get clogged over timer and should be cleaned. You can do this by using a product called "New Well" and it is safe for the environment. Let the Well Cleaner sit overnight to 24 hours. I also then use 20 - 60ft (depending on depth of well) of 3/4" pipe with a boring tip on the bottom to help pressure wash or clean off the screens. This process normally work very well, although I have had a few that are beyond repair and must have new wells drilled. But I would say about 95% of wells can be cleaned successfully.
With the combination of a well cleaning and a new pump (as long as there are no other well problems such as a craked pipe and/or massive vaccume leak) you will notice a great improvement in the performance of your system.
Scott Young
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
posted by Irrigationman at
11:37 PM
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