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Partially blocked lawn sprinkler line -- how to unblock and how to prevent in future
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Percival P. Cassidy
Jun 22, 2016, 10:56:48 AM6/22/16
to
Our sprinkler system has many daisy-chained sprinklers -- not the way to
do it, I understand, but that's the way they were.
A week or two ago I managed to chew up a sprinkler with the mower, and
when I unscrewed the damaged sprinkler dirt and stones fell into the
Tee. I cleared away all I could reach, then turned on the water to blow
out the rest. Unfortunately, it seems as though some continued straight
on -- toward the next sprinkler -- instead of blowing out from the one I
was working on. Now there is barely a trickle from that next sprinkler.
What would be the best way to clear the line? It's 3/4-in poly pipe.
I've thought of unscrewing that next sprinkler and trying to push stiff
wire back along the pipe, but is there a better way?
And is there a good way to prevent the problem in future? How does one
stop dirt and stones falling into the open line?
Perce
do it, I understand, but that's the way they were.
A week or two ago I managed to chew up a sprinkler with the mower, and
when I unscrewed the damaged sprinkler dirt and stones fell into the
Tee. I cleared away all I could reach, then turned on the water to blow
out the rest. Unfortunately, it seems as though some continued straight
on -- toward the next sprinkler -- instead of blowing out from the one I
was working on. Now there is barely a trickle from that next sprinkler.
What would be the best way to clear the line? It's 3/4-in poly pipe.
I've thought of unscrewing that next sprinkler and trying to push stiff
wire back along the pipe, but is there a better way?
And is there a good way to prevent the problem in future? How does one
stop dirt and stones falling into the open line?
Perce
trader_4
Jun 22, 2016, 11:43:02 AM6/22/16
to
The heads typically have a screen at the entrance, that could be the
problem too. Some heads, eg rotor type, you can unscrew the head
from the shell, remove it, without removing the shell from the ground.
That can help avoid getting new dirt in there. It's always a problem
when you have a hole and are working on the pipes and wind up with
water filling the hole.
Oren
Jun 22, 2016, 12:23:56 PM6/22/16
to
On Wed, 22 Jun 2016 10:57:25 -0400, "Percival P. Cassidy"
<Nob...@NotMyISP.net> wrote:
>And is there a good way to prevent the problem in future? How does one
>stop dirt and stones falling into the open line?
Depends. I added ~2 inch risers on the tee and used a shorter pop-up
<Nob...@NotMyISP.net> wrote:
>And is there a good way to prevent the problem in future? How does one
>stop dirt and stones falling into the open line?
sprinkler head.
If debris fails in the line, before you turn on the water, use an
older turkey baster to lift dirt out. YMMV
You might try putting temporary longer risers on and the flush them
out.
gfre...@aol.com
Jun 22, 2016, 12:42:48 PM6/22/16
to
On Wed, 22 Jun 2016 10:57:25 -0400, "Percival P. Cassidy"
<Nob...@NotMyISP.net> wrote:
<Nob...@NotMyISP.net> wrote:
break the line to clear it and put it back together. It might just be
one big rock.
Percival P. Cassidy
Jun 22, 2016, 1:13:40 PM6/22/16
to
On 06/22/2016 12:42 PM, gfre...@aol.com wrote:
>> Our sprinkler system has many daisy-chained sprinklers -- not the way to
>> do it, I understand, but that's the way they were.
>>
>> A week or two ago I managed to chew up a sprinkler with the mower, and
>> when I unscrewed the damaged sprinkler dirt and stones fell into the
>> Tee. I cleared away all I could reach, then turned on the water to blow
>> out the rest. Unfortunately, it seems as though some continued straight
>> on -- toward the next sprinkler -- instead of blowing out from the one I
>> was working on. Now there is barely a trickle from that next sprinkler.
>>
>> What would be the best way to clear the line? It's 3/4-in poly pipe.
>> I've thought of unscrewing that next sprinkler and trying to push stiff
>> wire back along the pipe, but is there a better way?
>>
>> And is there a good way to prevent the problem in future? How does one
>> stop dirt and stones falling into the open line?
>> Our sprinkler system has many daisy-chained sprinklers -- not the way to
>> do it, I understand, but that's the way they were.
>>
>> A week or two ago I managed to chew up a sprinkler with the mower, and
>> when I unscrewed the damaged sprinkler dirt and stones fell into the
>> Tee. I cleared away all I could reach, then turned on the water to blow
>> out the rest. Unfortunately, it seems as though some continued straight
>> on -- toward the next sprinkler -- instead of blowing out from the one I
>> was working on. Now there is barely a trickle from that next sprinkler.
>>
>> What would be the best way to clear the line? It's 3/4-in poly pipe.
>> I've thought of unscrewing that next sprinkler and trying to push stiff
>> wire back along the pipe, but is there a better way?
>>
>> And is there a good way to prevent the problem in future? How does one
>> stop dirt and stones falling into the open line?
> Drag a hose out there and blow back the other way. You might have to
> break the line to clear it and put it back together. It might just be
> one big rock.
I just tried blowing water back, but without success.
> break the line to clear it and put it back together. It might just be
> one big rock.
And when I said in the original message, "Now there is barely a trickle
from that next sprinkler." I should have said, "There is barely a
trickle from the next sprinkler body even when the popup is removed."
Perce
Taxed and Spent
Jun 22, 2016, 1:17:15 PM6/22/16
to
these days)?
trader_4
Jun 22, 2016, 1:18:19 PM6/22/16
to
it's time for a small snake.
Percival P. Cassidy
Jun 22, 2016, 1:20:10 PM6/22/16
to
On 06/22/2016 12:23 PM, Oren wrote:
>> And is there a good way to prevent the problem in future? How does one
>> stop dirt and stones falling into the open line?
>
> Depends. I added ~2 inch risers on the tee and used a shorter pop-up
> sprinkler head.
>
> If debris fails in the line, before you turn on the water, use an
> older turkey baster to lift dirt out. YMMV
>
> You might try putting temporary longer risers on and the flush them
> out.
The one I was replacing was a RainBird MaxiPaw, so there isn't a shorter
>> And is there a good way to prevent the problem in future? How does one
>> stop dirt and stones falling into the open line?
>
> Depends. I added ~2 inch risers on the tee and used a shorter pop-up
> sprinkler head.
>
> If debris fails in the line, before you turn on the water, use an
> older turkey baster to lift dirt out. YMMV
>
> You might try putting temporary longer risers on and the flush them
> out.
version I could use in conjunction with a longer riser. And IAC, the
riser remained attached to the sprinkler and unscrewed from the Tee, so
even a longer riser wouldn't have made any difference.
Perce
ChairMan
Jun 23, 2016, 1:44:49 AM6/23/16
to
Percival P. Cassidy <Nob...@NotMyISP.net> wrote:
or cap. Then just turn the sprinklers on and take a spring
clamp to the pop up sleeve so that it doesn't retract when
you turn the water off, then replace the head after you've
blown it out
Percival P. Cassidy
Jun 23, 2016, 3:47:44 PM6/23/16
to
> Do you have an electrical fish wire/tape (or whatever they are called
> these days)?
I do have an electrician's fish tape, but the folded-back end is too
> these days)?
large to get round the corner of the Tee. I was able to poke a piece of
10-ga wire around the bend and the problem at that location is solved.
But then the next sprinkler after that was not working either; it's at
the end of the "daisy chain" and is fed through the side, which has a
smaller opening: From the inside -- after unscrewing the MaxiPaw
mechanism -- I could feel a pebble wedged against it, but I was able to
undo the side connection and unblock the line.
Perce
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