DIY Corner

KARSTEN’S ACE PRESENTS IRRIGATION DIY TIPS

As you know, most homes in the Desert LEAKY IRRIGATION TUBE LINE Southwest have irrigation systems to If you have water seeping out of your gravel or dirt keep all of your plants green and healthy in your yard, you will need to find the source. First throughout the year. Maintaining your irrigation you will need to grab a spade shovel with a pointed system is not as difficult as you would think. All edge to dig a hole where the water is leaking. Once you need is a nice day, which is plentiful here in you have reached its source you can determine the Valley of the Sun. We thought we would outline how to repair. Be careful while doing this so you three areas that arise the most that you can handle do not make your matters worse by creating more all by yourself. Below you will find three helpful leaks by damaging your existing water line. In hints to repairing your irrigation system. most cases your leak is being caused by a crack in your irrigation tubing, which will happen over time SOLENOID REPLACEMENT due to the movement in the earth or if your hose barbed connector that you will insert into the hole If your irrigation system is turned on and a valve is above ground, our beautiful warm sunshine will you made (pointed end is inserted into the hole), does not seem to be working, first locate the valve. cause it to become brittle. From this point you will then add a precut ¼” tubing on the other end that It will either be in an inground valve box, or may need to dig a wide enough hole to be able to repair will be long enough to reach your new plant. That be located above ground adjacent or in close the tubing. tubing can either be buried or run along the top of proximity to the main water line into your home. the ground. At this point you would add a 1-4 gph Once you have located your valves and determined If the crack is small, you can repair it by cutting the (gallon per hour) dripper based on the requirements which valve is not working, make sure all wires are tube with a tube cutter and inserting each end of of the type of plant you are planting. This simple properly connected to the solenoid on top of the the tube into a coupler, and hand tightening to get process can be followed wherever you decide to add valve. If they are and the valve is still not work- a good fit. That is all there is to it. If your hose is a new plant. ing, then you will need to replace the solenoid. damaged more than a simple hole or crack, you will The solenoid is a small black cylinder about 2-3 probably need to replace part of the tubing. Once If you would like your system to reach further into inches in length and has two black wires attached you have determined the extent of tubing damage, your yard or reach a plant that is further away, you to it. The solenoid’s main job is to operate the gate you will need to replace that tubing the same way can easily extend the length of your ½” tubing by that is located inside the valve itself. The solenoid that is mentioned above, by doing it twice on both adding a coupler and more tubing. is screwed into the top of the valve and can be ends of your new piece of tubing. Before you cover easily removed by detaching the black wires and up the tube with the dirt, test the seal by turning Supplies needed: unscrewing the cylinder out of the valve. Once this your water back on and check for any leaking ITEM SKU # PRICE is completed, take your new solenoid and screw it water. If you are free of any leaks or drips, you are Shovel 70018 $17.99 back into the same location that you removed the good to go. Garden Trowel 7006174 $7.99 bad one. Next, reattach the wires using waterproof Gloves 7507287 $12.99 wire nuts (note that the wires are color coded). Supplies needed: 50 ft ½” Tubing 7035363 $9.59 These wire nuts are usually blue in color and have ITEM SKU # PRICE ½” Coupler 7107287 $2.99 gel in them to protect the wires from getting wet. Tubing Cutter 7188816 $19.99 Tubing Cutter 7188816 $19.99 Once that is complete, wrap the wires and connec- Garden Trowel 7006174 $7.99 ¼” Barbed Connectors 10pk 7488550 $5.59 tors with electrical tape to secure the joining of the 50’ ½” Tubing* 7035363 $9.59 50 ft ¼” Irrigation Tubing* 7107303 $9.99 wires and help keep the elements out. Coupler 7107287 $2.99 1 gal per hour drippers 10pk**76895 $7.99 We suggest buying a 50’ roll of tubing and keep for ¼” Hole Punch 7826233 $2.59 Supplies needed: future use. *Irrigation tubing comes in various lengths, colors First determine what brand the water valve is by and prices. looking on top of the valve. The most popular ADDING MORE DRIPPERS ONTO YOUR **Irrigation line drippers come in various flow rates valves are Orbit, Toro or Rainbird. You will also EXISTING SYSTEM and packs. need wirenuts and electrical tape: If you would like to add more plants to your yard ITEM SKU # PRICE near what is already being watered by your drip All of these supplies listed (and more) can be purOrbit Solenoid 7216484 $11.99 system, it is very easy to add drippers to your line to chased at your local Karsten’s Ace Hardware. If you Toro Solenoid 7297229 $11.99 water your new plants. The process starts by locat- have any questions or concerns, please contact us or Rainbird Solenoid 76952 $11.99 ing your existing ½” water line. Access the tubing come into the store - we would be more than happy Wirenuts 3106259 $11.99 by digging a hole big enough so you can poke a hole to assist you. As you know “Ace is the Place with Electrical Tape 33180 $1.39 in the existing ½” line. Next you will need a ¼” the Helpful Hardware Folks!”

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