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Troubleshoot lawn and garden irrigation system problems with their repairing(DIY) in USA

Using ordinary overground irrigation system and methods don't create serious problems in lawns and gardens. In the case of Sprinklers and subsurface irrigation systems, though systems are automatic some major problems can create concerns. 

In that scenario, underground subsurface irrigation system maintenance is very difficult and the same with the sprinklers system. 

Troubleshoot lawn and garden irrigation system problems 

Don't worry, I'm here to for your help. Even if you know some basic methods of PVC fitting and even very small experience with plumbing before, you can improve the concerns and maintain the irrigation systems yourself. 

Irrigation system problems and solutions in lawns and gardens

General problems in lawn/garden irrigation 

I'm going to mention all the possible problems that can appear in both the Sprinkler system and subsurface irrigation system as follows-

Sprinklers system problems

  • Sprinklers may get damaged because of walking or collision with an aeration machine or mowing machine, or any other heavy lawn or garden tool.
  • Sometimes accidentally and sometimes with time, the entire sprinkler system control valve may get damaged or permanently get broken. 
  • Heavy aeration machines may damage the lawn's underground sprinkler pipelines. This is a very serious problem in lawns and so its maintenance. 
  • It may also happen that the entire lawn or garden sprinkler irrigation system may need proper maintenance because of its age or some other possible reasons. 

Subsurface irrigation system problems

  • Subsurface irrigation systems are very sensitive in lawns. Aeration tools and machines may open some cuts in the PVC pipes at the time of aeration. 
  • Subsurface irrigation systems' drippers may get damaged or need maintenance because of moss or algae in them. Sometimes, stone particles block the drippers.
  • The subsurface irrigation control valve may get damaged with time because of the controlled pressure of water regularly. 
  • Once in a couple of years, it will be a scenario in which you need to improve or maintain the entire subsurface irrigation system. 

How to know if my underground lawn irrigation pipeline is damaged?

  • In lawns, it is easy to figure out the signs of broken underground pipelines. The following points are helpful to confirm a lawn irrigation pipe damage underground-
  • If you see a particular section of lawn is circularly greener(more than 50%) or moist comparatively others. 
  • If water is leaking from the edges of the lawn or the drainage lines you made earlier, then it may be a sign of water leakage. 
  • If moss is appearing in a particular section with algae, and moisture is more than 50% then you can confirm underground pipeline damage. 

Solutions to various damaged irrigation problems

The best solution for various lawn and garden irrigation problems is maintenance and repair of the damaged sections instead of replacing the entire system and re-install it. 

The solutions are plumbing related so you need some requirements to improve and repair the damaged irrigation systems-

  • Plumbing wrenches 
  • PVC pipes with the same diameter you installed in the system
  • PVC socketsPVC elbows
  • New sprinklers
  • New drippers
  • New valves 
  • PVC glue
  • Pipe blocker
  • PVC cutter
  • Spade
  • Hoe 

With the help of the above tools, you can solve and repair more than 90% of lawn irrigation system problems and these are basic plumbing tools. 

Now, let's go further and look at the repair guide for the sprinkler irrigation system and subsurface irrigation. 

Maintenance and repair guide for damaged irrigation systems

Although maintenance is not that much required, most of the time, you do repairing of the irrigation systems. Now, let's repair your systems one by one-

Sprinkler irrigation repairing

If the underground pipeline is broken

Step 1- Figure out the broken area as I suggested you find and mark the area. 

Step 2- Use a spade and hoe to dig slightly more till the pipeline appears. 

Step 3- Switch off the main control valve. 

Step 4- Cut the leaking portion with the help of a cutter and let the remained water flow or you can block it with pipe blockers at both ends. 

Step 5- Now, take the same diameter socket to bind them.

Step 6- Wash the edges and apply PVC glue at both ends. Connect the socket with them. 

Step 7- If the cut or damage is too big then use double sockets to add a new piece of pipe. 

If sprinklers are broken 

Step 1- Confirm that your sprinklers are damaged or broken if they are leaking extra water out from the sprinklers. If Sprinklers are not moving more than an acute angle then there may be some problems or particles are stuck in that. In that case, you need to repair or replace them. 

Step 2- Switch off the control valve. 

Step 3- Dig at the same level of sprinkler pipes near the sprinkler vertex. 

Step 4- Separate the sprinkler head from the pipes. 

Step 5- Check the damage by connecting it with a new source. If some particles are stuck in it then take it to professional plumbers. If it is broken then replace it. 

Step 6- Fix it with the main pipeline as you did before. Cover pipes with the soil and fill the dig. 

If the control valve is damaged

Step 1- If the control valve is damaged then you don't have many options to control it. 

Step 2- In such cases, you need to empty the tank or temporarily disconnect the source with the pipeline. If it is not possible then use pipe blockers immediately after removing the valves. 

Step 3- Bring a new control valve of good material and stronger. 

Step 4- Fix it at both ends after removing the blocking plugs at both ends of the pipes. 

Step 5- Fix it with PVC glue and check the control. 

Subsurface drip irrigation repairing

If the underground pipeline and control valve is broken

In such cases, you should follow the same process as I suggested to do with the sprinkler irrigation system earlier. 

If drippers are damaged

Step 1- To check drippers, you need to block them with your fingertips. With some pressure, they flush the blocking particles. But if they don't do it, you need to replace them. 

Step 2- Switch off all the primary and secondary control valves. 

Step 3- Pull out all the damaged drippers. 

Step 4- Replace them with new ones. They are easier to replace as they are small in size. 

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