[jrref]

Originally Posted by Santiagogirl

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.

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

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jrref

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.

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.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by RICH1

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

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

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by jrref

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

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.

[SHIBUMI]

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...........

Originally Posted by lawgolfer

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.

[Laker14]

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.

[Salty Dog]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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.

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

[keepsake]

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.

[Altavia]

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[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by keepsake

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.

Never had that in twice a week.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jrref

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 are interested in an irrigation filter a Village resident Chuck Grospitch installs them. You might want to give him a call on 440-823-4273 or e-mail him at chuck.grospitch@gmail.com
for information. He's highly recommended.

I agree that, if you have a problem with clogged sprinkler heads, it is a good idea to install a filter for the entire system. But, I have never had a problem with clogged heads. Occasionally, a sprinkler head will break or become misaligned, but almost never clogged with sand, debris, or algae. Maybe clogging occurs in some areas of The Villages.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

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.

Now that is interesting, had no idea there would be such a difference in the soil between villages ! We live closer to Lake Sumter area and the filters in the heads always need cleaning a couple times a year. We've even found small "stones", larger than the usual sand that clogs them. You are so lucky in Pennycamp believe me. Is your system a Hunter ? Maybe the villages are putting in systems now that don't get so clogged with sand and such ?

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Ski Bum

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.

Thank you ! We were going to follow the advice on here and just remove all the filters.... due to your post, we tried just one (we've been doing all the routine spring yard work) and you are so right, NOT going to be good to remove them, so back to just keeping them CLEAN of the sand and grit. Maybe the person who has removed them successfully has a different brand, not the Hunter heads we have with the small screws on top ?

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

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.

Personally I'd say don't worry about it, if your lawn looks fine, they are working fine...LOL ! But yes, we've found ours ARE working, but after we do the routine maintenance each spring and fall, cleaning the little filters (Hunter system), we definitely see an improvement !

[retiredguy123]

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