A Few Irrigation Repairs

During the process of recharging the irrigation system, it is typical for problems to arise.  This year was no different, but fortunately we ended up with a short list of problems that need to be addressed.  Some typical problems are heads that stick on, heads that stop spinning, broken heads and leaks in the piping system. This year we had one head stick on, 3 broken heads and one leak.

Here is a picture of one of the broken heads.  The top portion of the head shoots out of the ground in spectacular fashion when the head is turned on for the first time in the spring.  Two heads put on this type of performance this week, with a head in 11 fairway being the unofficial winner for height of the projectile.  No doubt the head by the chipping green would have put up more competition had it not been for the overhanging appendage of a maple tree.  It is a possibility that there was some water left in the head that froze and cracked the head over the winter and resulted in its failure.

We had one leak in the system (that we have noticed so far) after refilling the lines.  This leak was between holes 10 and 18, behind the fairway bunker on 18.  A fitting was not installed properly and after refilling the lines this year it is likely the fitting shifted enough to cause the leak.  Most leaks in the piping system are fixed in the same manner, so here is the process for fixing a leak.

We were alerted of the leak by the river of water running across 18 fairway on Monday after filling the lines on hole 10.  We could see the water bubbling up around the head, so we started digging there.  After digging out the head, we found the leak was on the T fitting for the head.

We then cut out the T fitting.  

After cutting out the fitting, we found that one end was not inserted into the T properly.  The pipe inserted into the T fitting was not even through the gasket that seals the connection.  The arrows are pointing to where the pipe stopped, it should have been about 4" farther into the T fitting.

Now it is a matter of preparing the pipe in the ground for the new fittings.

I was able to reuse the T fitting, add a new section of pipe and join the two with a coupling.  When that is done, you turn on the water and cross your fingers.

Now the first leak of the year is fixed.