Reticulation Repair

1. Tips to Keep Your Reticulation Ticking Over the Winter Period Winter has arrived in Perth, and with it comes the yearly sprinkler ban for most household in Perth. Enforced by the WA Water Corporation, the permanent winter sprinkler ban applies to all scheme and bore water users in Perth, Mandurah and some parts of the South West, from 1 June to 31 August each year. During this time handheld watering and maintenance testing of bores are still permitted, but anyone using their sprinklers between June and August risks a $100 fine. A malfunctioning reticulation controller is not an excuse for not complying with the winter ban, so it’s important to check the settings on your reticulation system – especially after a power outage. You can be fined even if your reticulation controller malfunctions – so follow these tips to ensure your reticulation system is all in order, and whether it requires reticulation repairs! Check the reticulation control box Check to make sure the cover works properly and closes to protect the electronics from sun or water damage. It’s also important to check that the wires are not loose, even though this may not be possible on all types and brands of reticulation boxes. Finally and most importantly, the battery should be replaced once a year. The battery keeps all programming information inside the control box whenever electricity is lost during blackouts. If not regularly replaced, an ageing battery will begin to leak its contents into the control box, possibly leading to permanent damage to the unit. Check for damaged sprinklers, and fix them! Lawn sprinklers sit under the ground exposed to the soil. For this reason, soil can often enter the sprinkler, blocking its flow pattern, or seizing it from easily popping up and down as required. To test your sprinklers, turn on the reticulation, and walk slowly around the area being watered, taking note of any sprinklers not rising properly, and not spraying properly. Remove, dismantle and wash any affected sprinkler parts under running water to clear out any sand or grit that may be blocking them. Put the sprinkler back and test your system again. If the sprinkler fails to work, as all sprinklers will over time - then it’s best to replace the lawn sprinkler with a new one. Install sprinkler surrounds To slow down dirt and grit entering into sprinklers, and to ensure easy action of the unit popping up and down, it can be a good idea to install ‘sprinkler surrounds’ around sprinklers. They are

2. easily installed by cutting away the lawn, and removing some soil from around the sprinkler, and inserting the ‘surround’. The surround should be placed so the top is flushed with the top of the lawn. Any excess soil should be removed between the sprinkler and the surround. Now, if all of the above sounds like something you don’t feel like tackling personally, or maybe you just don’t have the time to spend your entire weekend in the garden, you can always rely on Luke’s Landscaping and Irrigation Services for all your reticulation repair needs. With a specialist reticulation division that can service and repair your existing reticulation or modify and improve old systems to bring them up to scratch, Luke’s Landscaping is only a call away for any reticulation repairs for your Perth home.