Water To Grow

One Ear Hose Clamp0

This may not look like much, and if you have never used one you may wonder why I am writing a post about a hose clamp, but this little thing can save you a lot of time and trouble.

A one ear hose clamp is named due to the shape of the clamp, looking like it could be a head with only one ear. The ear is so that you can use a crimping tool, which looks somewhat like a pair of pliers, to grab on to that ear and crimp the clamp down tight around an irrigation hose. This hose clamp works great and can be used instead of the threaded screw type of clamp on most irrigation lines. They are less expensive, easier and faster than the traditional hose clamp. The downside is that they aren’t quite as strong, and are a one-time use only.

If you are clamping any connections for water lines that are under really high pressure or lines that have active water pressure in them all the time, such as water lines that are before your valves, I would use the traditional clamp and sometimes two of them to ensure that my fittings don’t leak. For everything else I use these one ear hose clamps to save myself time and money.

Posted: Handy Tools, Tips and Tricks

Grease Caps to Avoid Short Circuits0

One thing that a lot of people do not think about in advance is protecting the wires for your automatic sprinkler system valves. When installing and running a sprinkler system, you are obviously dealing with a lot of water. Also, by putting valve boxes underground with wires to the valves, there is a good chance that at some point during the year that valve box could get very wet or even be flooded. If you do not protect the wires that are running your automatic valves, you will get a short and blow a fuse, and then your sprinklers will not run because the timer has stopped.

When installing your valves and attaching wiring to your controller, you will want to use some form of grease cap. A grease cap allows you to take the bare wire connection that you have made, and “bury” it inside the grease cap, and then secure it. This makes a waterproof seal around any bare wires so they are not exposed, and still allows you to take the wires out again without having to cut them if you needed to. After having grease on the wires it will be messy, but you can do it.

Whenever making wire connections in an area that may be exposed to water, always remember to use a grease cap for the connection to avoid a short.

Posted: Handy Tools, Tips and Tricks

Line Drains for Cold Weather0

Line drains are relatively inexpensive parts, but they can save you a ton of time an money if you live in a cold weather area, and pay for themselves many times over. If you live in an area where the ground freezes down to the depth your buried your sprinkler line or more, you want to pay attention to this post.

Line drains are threaded “plugs” that have a pressure sensitive valve in them. I always try to “T” them into your sprinkler line at the low points of each section. When the line has pressure on it, the valvel closes and no water comes out. When the pressure releases then the valve opens and water can drain out of these low points.

Even though you probably blow out your sprinkler system in the winter, this helps in case any water remains in your system. If you happen to get an unexpected cold spell or have exposed areas during even a short cold spell where the water in your sprinkler liine coulud freeze solid it could cause a lot of damage, maybe not in materials but you need to find the break, dig it up, fix it and bury it again. The line drains allow the system to drain itself after each cycle so the pipe is not filled with water that can freeze solid and break.

Tip:
When installing them have some sand handy to bury the line drain with. It keeps a chuck of dirt or clay from blocking the valve and stopping the draining.
The downsides are pretty minimal to using this, but there are a few couple minor ones:

1. You need to buy the drains (a little extra cost but not much) and go through the extra work of installing them, but again if you are in a cold weather area it is well worth it in the long run.
2. It drains all of the water out of your line each time into the drain points. This still stays in your lawn, but might pool and waste a little water where you don’t want/need it.
3. I like my system to be quiet, especially when it turns on in the middle of the night or anytime my neighbors are sleeping. When all the water drains out each time the heads tend to make more noise when the water pressure pushes out all of the air. This isn’t a big deal, but it is a little noisier than normal for a little longer time.

Overall, if you live in a cold area the line drains are always a good idea.

Line Drains [King Innovation]

Posted: Tips and Tricks, Winterization

Tunneling Under with the Sidewalk Sleever2

Tunneling under sidewalks and similar obstructions can be an big obstacle, even for experienced irrigation installers. The first time I was faced with this task, I did not have the the Sidewalk Sleever, but I wish I did. There are alternative ways to get this job done, but I would suggest that if you have to tunnel under something more than once to consider getting one of these tools, because if you’re anything like me after the first time you are going to wish you had it!

The Sidewalk Sleever is used for 1 or 2 inch PVC pipe, and tools go from 60″ to 96″ long for the 1″ diameter pipe, and 60″ only for the 2″ diameter pipe.

To use, you measure your PVC pipe as directed with the tool so that it fits between the “boring” end and the “stop” end. You will need to dig a hole on either side of the sidewalk or obstruction so that you can tunnel the Sidewalk Sleever through level. You then insert the tool through your PVC pipe and line it up to go under your obstruction. You can then use a sledge hammer to pound your PVC pipe right under the sidewalk, and once you are through just remove the tool from inside the pipe and you are set.

You’ll want to be carefull to have the tool level when you start to avoid it going to deep on the other end, or aiming up too high and taking a chance at cracking your sidewalk from beneath.

The makers of the Sidewalk Sleever boast that most tunneling jobs can be done in 60 seconds. The method I have used involved a lot of water, and lot of time and a lot of work, so I have to say that this tool looks like it’s worth it!

Sidewalk Sleever Site [SidewalkSleever.com]

Posted: Handy Tools, Tunneling, Tips and Tricks