Lawn Sprinkler Tips

I wrote a short blog post in 2007 about how to clean a pvc well (Clean PVC Well), but I just re-read it and I want to add a few more points.The process that I’m referring to is for cleaning out irrigation wells that supply water to a lawn and landscape sprinkler system, not for drinking water wells. Drinking water wells have specific types of cleaner and you must also test that water to make sure it is safe. I’m only referring to irrigation wells in this and the previous blog posts.Next I wanted to describe to you another step that we’ve added from years of experience in cleaning irrigation wells. After you let the cleaner sit for a day or so, and have already tried to spin or move the 2″ well casing, there is another process that I’d like to tell you about that has worked wonders.

Use a 20 foot stick of thin-wall 3/4″ pipe and add a hose connection piece to one end. This is so that you can hook up a standard water hose to the pipe. Then at the oppisite end of the 20 foot stick of pipe, you will add a ‘boring’ tip or ‘jet’ tip. Both the pvc to hose connection and boring tip can be found at Ace hardware or most any hardware stores.

Actually you may need to add another 10 to 20 feet of 3/4″ pipe prior to installing the jet tip, depending on the depth of your well. The main thing you want to do here is to reach the bottom of your well and then clean the bottom 5 to 10 feet of well casing. The reason for doing this is because the bottom 5 to 10 feet is going to be where the well screen is installed.

The screen is where the water is pulled through and sand and other debris is kept out. Over the years different minerals and just plain old ‘gunk’ build up on the screen. Using running water and pressure for the jet tip head, you can rub the pipe against the edge of the screen and use the water to clean off the screen! This has proved out to be a very valuable technique for unclogging well screens and improving the overall yield of the well.

We have seen improvements such as going from 12 gallons per minute before cleaned, to producing over 30 gallons per minute after being cleaned! It is amazing. My old partner actually didn’t want me sharing this info with anyone, especially possible competition or other businesses, but if you’re lucky enough to find my website, then I’m not scared to share the information. They’ll still be plenty of business to go around and if I can help you save money or teach others how to do this so they can make money, then that makes me feel good to share.

Always make sure to measure the flow of your well & pump before and after so that you accurately know what kind of improvement you’ve made. The process described works best for shallow wells with horizontal, centrifugal pumps. Vertical jet pumps with deeper wells can also be cleaned this way, but you must remove the drop pipe and foot valve first. Actually with Jet pumps it is very common for the jet and the end of the drop pipe, right before the foot valve, to get clogged with debris. This is one of the main causes for limited flow on a jet pump setup. The other major cause of reduced flow with a jet pump is the actual pump itself.

As always, good luck and feel free to contact me with questions!

Scott
Automatic Lawn Sprinklers
Advanced Irrigation Florida