How to flush your irrigation system and replace pop up nozzles

Spring signals garden and lawn maintenance for most home owners.

While your irrigation isn’t in use during the cold season your sprinkler nozzles can become blocked with dirt. Blocked nozzles not only water inefficiently and waste water, but they also cause dry and patchy spots on your lawn. It’s a common occurrence for nozzles to become damaged due to foot or vehicle traffic and replacing these is a necessity before setting up your warm weather watering schedule.

STEP 1: Inspect your risers and nozzles

  1. Clear the sprinkler surround with a trowel or sprinkler surround cutter
  2. Inspect the sprinkler body for damage
  3. Lift the sprinkler riser and inspect it for damage
  4. Unscrew the old nozzle
  5. Inspect the inside for debris or damage
  6. Undo the filter basket and rinse it under the tap. Before you replace the filter basket make sure you flush the system (Step 2)

STEP 2: Flush the system

  1. Use a flush cap to flush the system from debris. A flush cap maintains pressure in the irrigation system
  2. It’s easier to pull the riser up before refitting your nozzle/flush cap
  3. Screw on the flush cap
  4. Run for 15-20 seconds
  5. Flush all of your other sprinklers one by one, or with multiple flush caps at one time
  6. If flush cap is not available, flush without any nozzle or filter basket attached to the riser
  7. Run for 5-10 seconds

STEP 3: Replacing pop up nozzles

  1. Pull up the riser before fitting new nozzle
  2. If you used a flush cap, unscrew it first
  3. Screw in the new nozzle and filter basket
  4. Use ratcheting riser to align spray pattern
  5. Fit a variety of nozzles options to suit your lawn
Types of replacement nozzles
  1. Fixed spray pattern – these nozzles are manufactured to only water at ¼, ½, ¾ or full circle
  2. Adjustable – these nozzles allow you to adjust the spray pattern depending on where your sprinkler is located on your lawn. Adjustable nozzles give you great flexibility to choose spray patterns especially for odd arcs.
  3. Rotary – these nozzles rotate the stream of water to ensure even and consistent watering. Rotary nozzles come in fixed arc configurations or an adjustable arc configurations due to the finger spray they are ideal for windy locations.

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