Irregation System Problems Clogged Sprinkler Heads
 

This year I can't believe how many homeowners I see fixing their lawn irrigation sprinkler heads either themselves or by a professional.

One of the problems is becasue we haven't had much rain this season, the retention ponds are unusually low and we are getting a lot of sand and debris in the re-claimed irregation water.

The only way to solve this problem is by installing an irrigation filter. It's not expensive but once intstalled and your sprinkler heads and filters cleaned or replaced if they are already clogged, you won't have to spend that yearly cost cleaning or replacing your sprinkler heads meaning the installation of an irrigation filter will pay for itself in one season.

If you have a hunter system each head has it's own filter that takes less than 2 minutes to remove, clean off and put back in. You will be adjusting your heads multiple times a year to keep them in tune so not a big deal to clean the filters at the same time. Also the system filter you mention will also need to be cleaned or replaced at least once a year.

An easier thing to do is to just throw away the filter. Why do you need a filter to protect a two dollar sprinkler nozzle? My sprinkler heads work fine without the plastic filters, and they don't get clogged as often.

Big thanks ! So good to know. We spend hours each spring, and often twice a year, spring and fall, patiently gathering the little plastic filters from heads and carefully soaking them in vinegar, cleaning with a toothbrush, etc. etc. That easy task HAS served us well, but just removing them... never thought about that. Did you ever then have trouble with sand particles getting stuck in the pin point spray holes ? Or is that not a problem ?

A major factor in your amazement of seeing so many of your neighbors out working on their sprinkler heads is just that it's spring and people are out working, doing routine things; if you've lived here very long, you'll notice more people out trimming bushes, cleaning out their gutters with leaf blowers, and so on. Do you have some details on your filters you had installed ? Does this man put a new filter in EACH sprinkler head, or does he install something that eliminated the yearly, or bi-yearly cleaning of each filter ? More details, interesting option to eliminate routine spring maintenance if it works. Thanks:smiley:

We've had no issues with clogged sprinkler heads 12 years Village of Pennycamp. Just hope it will start raining soon water twice weekly lawn is healthy.

I haven't noticed a problem. I keep several spare nozzles, but I think I have only replaced about 5 to 8 nozzles in the past 6 years due to clogging.

Note that there is a non-adjustable nozzle with 2 pin point holes 180 degrees apart for watering a linear row of plants. It is a Hunter Model 5-CST-B, which I once ordered for a neighbor, but I have never needed to replace one in my yard. If you ever need one, the only place I could find it was at sprinklerwarehouse.com. ACE Hardware and Amazon did not carry it.

I would think that sprinkler head that is clogged wouldn't show me enough
to show me if it is clogged.
Always though if there's water coming out it's working, now I'm not so sure.

Friend has one. Filter is inline with the water supply. Mainly intended for reclaimed water in the south end that is loaded with grit, sand, and junk. The filter element is easy to clean, and reusable. The heads never clog up now.

Thanks! i learned something today!

I like the bulk filter ideas but I thought the reclaimed water was filtered and processed before distribution?

Any sand or grit would be from installation or?

Different strokes for different folks. A filter will not prevent your lawn mowing guy or gal from cutting off the heads or driving over them or whatever and knocking them out of proper adjustment. It has been very dry. Perhaps a wise time to check your heads.
Should be a what to do in February, March kind of thing.

Perhaps, my style for many things. You can pay someone to do it wait around for a day
for them to show up. Or look it up on the internet and do it yourself. The parts a color coded and a commonly sold item Ace, Lowes and mail order.

Someone mentioned there are filters in every head. We are on the recycled water and I don't recall ever seeing a stuffed head filter.

A suggestion to all. Save some shallow cans-like tuna fish cans. Wash them you do not want to attract rats etc. You space them out, one section at a time and see how good your water distribution is working. Are the heads right and properly adjusted? The level in the can will tell you. Why tuna cans? Other cans, glasses etc due to shape may have water bouncing off the sides.

No, that is not the case. There supposedly is some minor filtration going on, but it doesn't keep out the smaller particles which will clog the sprinkler heads.

Well, I am interested in a filter for the entire system. It isn't just the time to take off each head and toothebrush the individual filter, it is that one also has to realign them, not just simply screw them back on, when one is done.

I was surprised how dirty mine were in Citrus grove, when I had only done it six months ago, and it was green slime, not sand. With the ponds being so low I would imagine that will remanifest even more quickly now.

I have a question for clarification please. Why do you need a filter on the sprinkler head or sprinkler system? Isn’t this just reclaimed water going into your lawn and plants? It seems if you remove all the filters that would solve the clogging problem.

Current drought makes it a lot easier to spot places where a sprinkler system needs adjustment or cleaning, or where a planting is blocking the spray & needs a trim. Just walk around the house once a week or two & look for brown spots, as well as broken or missing heads as a result of our lawn folks. Won't identify every problem, but will prevent permanent damage to the lawn.
Most of the problems I've found are quick fixes, and green returns very quickly. I live in northern end of TV where sprinklers are on municipal water supply, so whole system filter would probably be overkill.

There is a screw on top of the nozzle that seats against that filter to turn down the spray, if needed. So the nozzle becomes non-adjustable if you remove the filter.

Replace Filters Don't Clean
 

It isn't worth the time and trouble to replace the small plastic filters at the sprinkler heads. You have to spend a lot of time with a fine toothbrush to get them clean and you have to make a second trip to the sprinkler and an "up and down" on our old, tired knees.

You can buy a supply of these filters at Irrigation supplies and equipment from Dripdepot for $.20/each. If you have a serious problem with clogged filters, which many do, you should find the sprinkler at the end of the line, remove the head and flush the line. Most times, you'll be shocked at the "junk" that comes out of the line.

Drip Depot is a great source for everything you need for sprinklers. The on-line catalogue has more types of and variations of sprinkler than I knew existed. It beats making a trip to Ace, Home Depot, or Lowe's all of which have a limited selection of sprinkler heads.

Some posters remove and discard these filters and have no problems. That will not be true for most of us. It is a lot easier to replace these filters than to clean out a bunch of sprinkler heads.

Agree 100%. Does not take much to clog up those filters.

I have never needed to adjust a sprinkler nozzle with the screw, and I have never seen a sprinkler technician use a screw driver on one.

Hope his Filter is installed before His ZONE Valves ….,

If you are talking about Hunter MP rotator sprinkler heads, they are a lot more than $2.00 apiece. The cheapest place I have found them is at Central Pro/Site One, at $7.00 each. Ace carries them, but $10 there. I've seen them as high as $12.50 on Amazon.

The main issue with running without a filter is that, eventually, contaminants will find their way into the inner workings of the head. Your first indication of this will be that the head stops rotating. The reclaimed water used for irrigation is exceptionally filthy. Over time, sprinkler heads will fail due to being fouled. An inline filter could very well prolong the life of the heads.

Tell me where you purchased $2 sprinkler heads. I just replaced an MP rotor for my S-I-L for about $11.

I was referring to the Hunter PRO adjustable nozzles that are about $2 each on Amazon, and come with a plastic, removable filter. Unless the builder has changed their process, that is the type they use on new houses.

I think you can buy the rotor type on Amazon for about $7 each. The Hunter PRO adjustable nozzles are $2 each.

Does he adjust mp rotater heads for a reasonable price?
Thanks, Bill

Don't let anyone fool you. If you take off those sprinkler head filters, your spray head will clog over time. It's not if, it's when. With most of the heads you can try to clean them out but a lot of the time if sand gets in there it won't come out and you will need to replace the head. Unless you find a sale most heads are at least $5-$8 and most homes have around 20-30 or more heads. So why spend money hiring someone to check and replace heads every year when you can avoid it? With the filter installed all you need to do is just re-align any heads which is a simple DIY maintenance task that won't cost any money.

As far as changing the whole system irregation filter, all you need to do is open the filter drain about once per month and since the filter is stainless steel you can easily unscrew the filter jar and clean it with soap and water once per year if needed.

Since every home's system is in a different state depending on how well it was maintained it's best to reach out to Chuck. Yes he does all these services as needed.

According to the Villages, reclaimed water is minimally processed meaning it's non-pottable and no they don't filter out all the sand and grit the amount that will vary each season depending on how much rain we get which is the problem.

Right so where you live, in the northern sections where sprinklers are on municipal water supply you don't need this filter.

To clarify, I was referring to the Hunter PRO adjustable nozzles that only cost $2 each on Amazon, not the rotator ones that cost $6 or $7. I never use the filter that comes with the $2 nozzles, and I have had very few nozzles get clogged during 6 years of use.

The filter is installed at the supply side before the valve box so it protects the entire system.

Not only that, but if you get thirsty while your irrigation is running you can drink from it.

Downside? We get charged sewerage on all water used, even when out of town and the only use is irrigation.

hunter head filters
 

thanks for the heads-up, no pun intended......... had a hard time finding hunter filters in fine mode....... much appreciated.....they are a no brainer to replace...........

I was buying some rotor heads at ACE in Southern Trace the other day, and the nice lady at the check out asked me if I was enjoying working on my "irrittation" system.

I thought that was rather clever.

I do this with zero issues, other than my sprinklers work much better. Granted they are not the rotating type sprinkler heads.

Any system or head that is not run daily will clog up from algae growth. Stop running it for a week and it'll take you hours clearing the clogs.

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Never had that in twice a week.