Month: January 2013

Repair the cracks and broken parts of you backyard water features.

Water features are a delightful addition to your property. Like most everything, they sometimes need repairs, especially because they are subjected to harsh elements all year long.

Cracking is a common problem with water features. The sun’s harmful rays and the cold winter weather can cause cracks in the feature. If you notice your feature is leaking, it’s possible that there is a crack that needs repairing.

To repair cracks and chips:

First, locate the crack. You’ll need to reduce the water level to below the crack, or drain the entire feature. Make sure you remove any wildlife or fish before you drain the feature. For cement features, remove the loose debris surrounding the crack using a chisel. Dust the area off. Apply bonding liquid, then the concrete. Let it dry, reseal and paint the repaired area.

To repair broken-off parts:

Epoxy is a great choice for mending two broken pieces of your water feature. Mix the epoxy following the manufacturer’s directions. Apply some epoxy to each piece and bond them together.

The irrigation experts at W.P. Law, Inc. carry quality water features that will bring beauty to your landscape. 

6 Steps for replacing pipe thread irrigation fittings.

Home irrigation systems provide the water needed for your landscape to thrive. Advancements in design, as well as, products have made home irrigation maintenance and repair easy for do-it-yourself homeowners.

Replacing pipe thread irrigation fittings is a common repair for irrigation systems. Over time, leaks may develop, and the need for replacing fittings arises.

Here are six steps to replace irrigation fittings:

1. Dig out the area: Carefully remove the sod without damaging the root system and dig down to the piping.

2. Turn the water supply off.

3. Remove the fittings: Remove the fittings to be replaced.

4. Use Teflon tape: Threaded fittings have to be sealed to be sure the seal is watertight. Using Teflon tape, wrap the tape around the end three or four times.

5. Screw the pieces together: Screw the pieces together tightly and replace in the ground. Turn the water supply on to check for leaks.

6. Replace soil & sod: Replace the soil and re-lay the sod. Use a tamper to compact the soil and insure the root system has good contact with the soil

Visit the irrigation experts at W.P. Law, Inc. for quality irrigation systems and supplies.

Early soil testing can help you get your lawn and garden ready for Spring.

A soil nutrient test is the best way to determine what your lawn and landscape needs to stay healthy and thrive. A soil test is done by sending a soil sample (usually about two cups) off to a lab for analysis. Samples can be sent off to an independent private lab or to your state’s Land Grant University soil testing facility. While both labs will give you an accurate soil test, most independent labs will provide you with faster results. The cost for a soil test is usually between $10.00 – $15.00.

A soil test will check the nutrient levels in your soil and compare them to what the plant that you are trying to grow actually needs. The soil test will identify the areas where your soil has nutrient deficiencies and make recommendations on what nutrients to add to make up these deficiencies.

A soil test will also test your soil’s pH level or acidity. Most plants like soils that are slightly acidic, that is having a pH lower than 7. The soil pH also affects the “efficiency” of your fertilizer. The nutrients contained in fertilizer can actually bind in the soil and not be available to you plants if the pH is too far off. Correcting soil pH is easy to do with lime. Lime reacts with the soil to raise the pH in soils that are too acidic. However, lime takes time to react with the soil and raise pH. For this reason, most lime applications are made in late winter.

An inexpensive soil test will not only help you have a healthy lawn and landscape, but can save you money by helping you avoid unnecessary fertilizer applications and making applications at the wrong time of year.

For more valuable information about soil nutrient tests and how they can help you have the lawn of your dreams contact the experts at W.P. LawInc.

4 Steps to plan for a new irrigation system.

Installing a new landscape irrigation system takes a lot of planning and research. Your landscape has many different needs and to make sure your new system meets all of those needs, you need to plan properly.

Here are four steps to plan for a new irrigation system:

1. Obtain a scaled drawing of your property: To begin the design process you will need a scaled drawing of your property. This drawing can be a tax map or a map obtained from your property deed. You can also use online resources such as Google Earth, just make sure your printed map is to scale.

2. Fill in the details: You will need to show the house, driveway, sidewalks, patios, decks, large trees, natural areas, and other landscape beds on the scaled drawing. Also show what areas you want irrigated and what type of plant material is in these areas.

3. Locate the water source: Locate the source of your water supply and note it on your scaled drawing. If you are using a municipal water source, note the size of the water meter. It is usually stamped on the meter (5/8”, ¾”, etc.). You will also need to do a flow test by timing how long it takes to fill a five gallon bucket. Do repeated test so you can take the average.

4. Design the system: Now is the time to design the system. This is best left up to a professional. A trained and certified irrigation designer will help you locate sprinkler heads properly, size the pipe properly, and help you decide what controller options are best for you.

Now that your irrigation system is planned, you’ll need to purchase the irrigation supplies, and the tools necessary to get the job done. Visit the irrigation specialists at W.P. Law, Inc. for quality irrigation systems and supplies, plus answers to your questions as you install your system.

5 Steps for getting your drip watering system ready for spring.

Winter may seem a little early to begin preparing your drip watering system for the upcoming spring season, but it’s not. It’s a good idea to take the time during the winter months to evaluate your system’s needs.

Here are five steps for preparing your drip watering system for spring use:

1. Check the controls: Clean off the irrigation controller, dust away any debris or cobwebs. Check the settings to make sure they are set for the appropriate time.

2. Check the battery: Replace the back-up battery in the controller.

3. Check for debris: Check the tubing and heads for any debris that may block the flow of water.

4. Flush out the system: Flush the tubing out to remove any dirt, or other debris that may have settled into the tubing.

5. Replace damaged parts: Inspect the system for cracked or damaged parts. If there are damaged parts, replace them.

By taking the time now to prepare your irrigation system, you can rest easy knowing that when spring arrives your system will be ready to provide irrigation for your precious crops or landscaping.

W.P. Law, Inc. carries quality irrigation supplies for all of your irrigation needs, and our irrigation experts can answer any question you have about your system.

3 Common problems with irrigation systems after winter weather.

Harsh winter weather can damage irrigation systems if the system wasn’t winterized properly. The most common cause of winter damage to sprinkler systems is freezing water inside of the piping. As the water freezes, it expands and can cause pipes to crack and leak. Some irrigation problems can be fixed by the homeowner while others may require hiring an irrigation professional.

Here are some common problems you may encounter after winter weather and how to repair them.

• Cracked pipes: To repair cracked pipes, turn the water off. Use a PVC pipe cutter to remove the damaged section of pipe. Make the repair using a telescoping repair coupling or compression coupling.

• Clogged sprinkler heads: Turn the water supply off. Pop the sprinkler head’s riser up and unscrew the top and remove the filter. Remove any debris and rinse the filter. Replace the filter and the sprinkler head.

• Damaged sprinkler heads: If the sprinkler head is damaged, you may need to replace it. Simply unscrew the sprinkler head, clear out any debris and screw the new sprinkler on.

If you didn’t winterize your irrigation system it’s possible that the system sustained damage during the cold winter weather.

Visit the irrigation specialists at W.P. Law, Inc. for quality irrigation systems and supplies, plus information and advice on keeping your irrigation system working properly.

How can you troubleshoot and repair your damaged irrigation piping?

Irrigation piping systems, over time, can become damaged, and begin to leak. Tree roots, an errant shovel and freezing temperatures all can damage underground irrigation pipes.

Troubleshooting

The easiest way to locate the areas where the pipes are damaged is to turn the sprinkler system on and look for water that puddles on the surface. Sprinkler heads that have a weak spray can also be an indication that you have a leak in your piping system.

Once you’ve found the trouble spots, first inspect the sprinkler heads to ensure there isn’t debris blocking the water. If they are clear, you’ll need to inspect the pipes.

Dig down to gain access to the pipes in the area where there is standing water and inspect them.

To Repair Pipes

Shut down the water running to the system. Cut out the damaged section of pipe using a PVC pipe cutter to insure smooth edges. You can also use a hand saw or reciprocating saw on larger diameter pipe, but you will need to de-burr the pipe edges.

Repairs can be made using a compression type repair coupling or a glue-on telescoping repair coupling. If you are using a glue-on repair coupling, you need to make sure you are using a PVC cement that is suitable for use in wet conditions such as IPS #725 Wet ‘R Dry.

Once the PVC cement has had time to cure properly, turn the system back on and check for leaks. Then, replace the soil and sod.

For more information about fixing damaged irrigation pipes, and to purchase supplies, contact the irrigation experts at W.P. Law Inc.