We understand that checking your reticulation system (aka retic) in winter sounds counterintuitive. After all, there’s a season-wide sprinkler ban affecting most residential and commercial properties due to consistent rainfall.
However, checking on your retic this winter, to determine its health and any problem points, is actually a very sound idea to prepare for the warmer, drier months ahead.
Want to know why? Find out below with the Perth reticulation experts at LHP Landscaping + Joel Irrigation.
Check to see if your retic is ready for what’s to come
If you wait until spring (or worse, summer) to switch on and test your retic – you might run into trouble.
The common issues many home and business owners alike experience from switching on their retic after a long hibernation are as follows:
- Broken and clogged sprinkler heads
- Faulty reticulation controllers
- Low water pressure
- Nonoperational zones.
It can be difficult to identify the source of the problem, especially with an untrained eye. Worse still, your luscious, winter-drenched lawns and plentiful gardens can fall by the wayside and dry out, if your retic isn’t up to scratch in the following, sunnier months. So, take a look at the health of your retic now with tips from the Perth reticulation and irrigation experts below.
Retic recommendations for winter checks
There’s three simple ways to check the functioning health of your retic system.
What are they?
- Switch on your reticulation system and carry out a test cycle. This should be relatively easy to do with the instructions on your system, hard copy manual or even product details found online.
- Take a walk around your front and back yard, checking closely to see if and how the sprinkler heads are working through the cycle.
- Check that the control timer is functioning and that your retic system is set to operate on your designated watering days (once the winter sprinkler ban ends, of course).
These steps can save you time and money if any water leaks or other insufficient problem areas are identified. Plus, your local irrigation and reticulation technician will have more time to help, at short notice, in winter than the peak of summer.
What next?
Don’t worry – you won’t get in trouble for testing your retic during winter, either. As long as it’s quick!
Winter is a smart time to get repairs or upgrades done to your retic.
Take advantage of what’s arguably a reticulation technician’s ‘down-time,’ for those all-important maintenance, repairs and upgrades.
When we emerge out of the cold, wet and dreary winter season – remember these tips!
- Sprinklers are only to be on and used between 6pm and 9am on your watering days
- You can only water once on your watering days
- Regardless of season, switch off your automatic retic system when rain is on the horizon.
For any advice, professional irrigation products and services – rely on LHP Landscaping + Joel Irrigation.
Need help with your reticulation system?
Contact LHP Landscaping + Joel Irrigation today for expert advice, products and services to prepare your gardens for year-round abundance.