Sprinklers

They're all working, though I have to check for rotation and angles on a few. I have replaced 5 heads this year and reseated one that had come loose into it's connector. That's a record for me. Usually I expect to replace 2 or 3, but 6 not working was a lot.

With a wet spring, I only turned on sprinklers a couple weeks ago. I noticed right away that 3 were out, and so I went and bought 4 more. It rained for a few days, so I wasn't too worried, and last weekend I went out (9 days ago) and replaced the first one. It was a pain, and I was cursing the installer the whole time. Why they connect the heads on the side and not the bottom is beyond me.

Actually I know why. It's cheaper. They can dig a trench 6" down instead of 12" and it saves them time. Repairs also take longer, which is more money for them to do a replacement. It also tears up the ground more (or maybe that's just me) because you need a bigger hole. Typically I've found that the larger heads, which throw 25-30', are connected on an elbow so you can tip the head on it's side to screw it in/out. However since that elbows are never long (usually 2"), you have to still dig a fairly wide hole around the head in order to be able to turn it. I struggled replacing one last year because I didn't dig it wide, wrestled with it in the fall, and it was the loose one this year.

So one replaced, and then cold, wet weather, so I slacked off all week. I'd purchased 4, expecting that one head, which appeared to be working, probably wasn't. It seems the springs wear out and they won't turn back and forth properly, just stick in one line.

Sunday I decided to replace more, and went out there with old jeans, wet, muddy grass, and I fixed 2 more, checking and aligning them, which went well. I didn't tear up the grass too badly, though I'll see in a week or two. I got to the next one, found a broken head and when I went to remove it, I broke the extension. So I dug around in my box of sprinkler parts, got a cutoff rise that I could use, took it out there, screwed it in, and as I was rotating it down, broke it.

Grrrrrr

I couldn't get the end out, and decided to just cut it off. But first I went out Sun night with Tia and then got to Lowes Mon am to get parts. I wasn't sure of the hose size (idiot move there) and decided to buy a few different parts. I got some 3/4" screw in Tees and elbows, and a few 1/2" barbed connectors, along with elbows, thinking this was what I needed. I didn't see a 3/4" barb, and of course, that was what I needed. Serves me right for leaving Lowes in less than an hour.

So I couldn't fix that one, but I moved on and replaced two more on the East side that I noticed weren't working. I'd purchased a few more heads at Lowes, just in case, and promptly used them. I also found one spring that wasn't working great, despite me messing with the settings and getting nice and wet along the way. I need to check it again, but I figured I'd do that when I replaced the last one.

Today it was back to Home Depot, getting 3/4" barbs and a few more odds and ends that I don't need this time, but I'm sure I'll use. I got back, went out and managed to replace that head, but didn't test it, needing to leave for scouts.

Tomorrow I'll test them all, try to set the angles, and hopefully get the lawn looking better. There are some very brown, bare spots that might need to be reseeded.