Fine Gardener
Watch these videos now! Really! Please!
Most of the irrigation problems I encounter all have the same problems and I ask clients to watch the videos in order for them to understand why their system may not be up to code or working correctly. The material they cover is pretty wonky stuff, but it is critical to having a functioning and long-lasting irrigation system. They are short and designed for non-professionals (that's you), but may take a couple of viewings. Besides, the vids explain all these concepts a lot better than I do.
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Best vid I have ever found on this subject. Non-pros can easily understand it.
Mostly good info and be sure to watch to the end. Great for homeowners.
Not all valves work the same way. Stop the vid at 0:31 and look carefully at the graphic. Are your anti-siphon valves 12" above the highest point of emission (that's is where water comes out of a sprinkler or drip fitting)? Probably not.
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Mainly an ad for pros, but there is useful info on what is inline emitter tubing - that is about 90% of what I install.
Did your installers take the time to educate you? Give me a call if you want this level of knowledge, creativity, and craftsmanship in your yard.
Municipalities are cracking down on the use of backflow preventers plus using them is simply a best industry practice.
Be sure to watch this video all the way to the end.
Got Gophers?
For whatever reason, gophers have a thing for valve boxes - they are unable to resist filling up a box with dirt. Valves can still function (at least for awhile) when buried, but the situation will not work for drip assemblies that must be serviced each year. I don't have this problem because I gopher-proof every box I install. Gophers move around, and just because you don't have them now doesn't mean you won't have them in the future. It's a lot easier for me - and safer for you - to just gopher-proof all valve boxes as I install them.
Backflow Prevention and Why You Should Care
What is backflow prevention? The easiest way to answer that question is to watch this video. It is short and easy to understand. Pay real close attention to the required heights of the various devices as this is critical. If the devices are not at the correct height, they will not work.
I place 99% of my valves underground, so that means anti-siphon valves are out of the question. Besides, do you really enjoy looking at those things? Underground valves are invisible and actually last many years longer than above-ground ones.
Pressure vacuum breakers are not expensive and usable in a few situations. They are kind of old-fashioned and rarely used anymore.
RP type backflow preventers are state-of-the-art and the most widely used device - you see them everywhere. Many advantages to using them and this is what I always specify. Here are a couple of pics showing such a device before and after installation.
So why should you care about backflow prevention? Because cities are really cracking down on their use. Building departments used to turn a blind eye as to whether or not homeowners installed them - not anymore. Some municipalities will not even issue a building permit unless you install one. Everyone is concerned about what they put into their bodies, and these devices are cheap insurance. They also mean that you don't have to look at above-ground valves and allow you to install below-ground valves which can last many years longer.
Does your irrigation system look like this?
THIS IS WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE:
A professionally installed irrigation system should only have the back flow preventer above ground. Everything else should be below ground and invisible. Even the valve box will be covered by a layer of mulch. Not only does this improve the look of your yard, it makes the system last years longer. The gray conduit you see is for the valve control wires. And, yes, those are bricks you see under the valve box. I use gravel to keep the top of the box in same plane as the ground and bricks keep gophers and other undesirable creatures away from the valves.