MAINTENANCE & REPAIR
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Is there a suggested maintenance routine versus responding to problems?
The preventive use of line cleaners is an essential tool to prolong the life of the drip
system. Remember, the system reliability and length of service is directly related to drip tape health.
How often do different mainte- nance tasks need to be done?
Media filters should be reviewed annually for cleanliness and wear. Surprisingly, one
can “wear out” the media, reducing the effective efficiency of the cleaning ability. On screen and disc filters, the screens or discs should be visually inspected for operational condition. Attention should be given to the controllers, flow meters and pressure-sustaining/pressure-reducing valves. Over time these components may need professional review and servicing.
What tends to be overlooked when it comes to keeping drip systems in working order?
Pressure regulation of a well-designed system is imperative. Zone valves should
be inspected every other year to maintain correct system uniformity.
What do you wish growers knew or understood about maintaining their drip systems?
The single most important item is careful monitoring of the system flow meter. This
component is the system health indicator of every drip irrigation system. A log should be maintained regularly documenting the flows by zone throughout the season. Variance of over 10%, either above or below rated flows, indicate issues a grower needs to address.
What areas tend to need the most repair?
The filter station is usually the component that draws the most service time. This
is primarily due to the concentration of critical cleaning, control, monitoring and pressure
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regulation devices. A field manager is well advised to take the following steps: 1) Check the pressure differential of the filter, 2) compare actual field flows to design flows, and 3) initiate a backflush cycle and observe the backflush water to determine if correct filter pressure regulation was achieved. This quick review should take no more than 10 minutes and validates that all the major components and the system are functioning properly.
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How can a grower avoid break- downs or getting to the point where repairs are needed?
Be vigilant! If something doesn’t seem quite right, you are better off dealing with
it before it deals with you. Invariably, the time you choose to ignore a subtle warning sign is the time the breakdown happens at the worst hour and with triple-digit heat forecast for the next week.
What are the most useful tools to have for repairs and maintenance?
A grower once told me that when he
used to tell his wife he was going irrigating, she knew he would load his shovel in the pickup. With the adoption of drip irrigation, now when he goes irrigating, his wife knows he is going to go get his voltmeter. A small tool bag and logical thinking are usually all you need.
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How do you check emitters to see if they are flowing the correct
amount?
After several seasons, a permanent drip system should be assessed for uniform
water distribution. This is an involved process of digging out a length of drip tape and doing a cup test. Several state universities sponsor mobile laboratories that provide a service of uniformity assessment.
Fall 2019 | Irrigation TODAY 17
If something doesn’t seem quite right, you are better off
before it deals with you.
wi dealing it
This small, lightweight tool selection is what Klauzer keeps in his tool bag. These few tools should cover 98% of service calls.
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