How to Unclog Your Sprinklers and Increase Water Pressure

Sprinklers on the fritz?

Most times the problem isn't due to individual sprinklers being clogged, but from a build up of rust and algae in the well--especially in low water table areas such as south Florida.

By following these simple steps, you will learn how to unclog your sprinkler well system, so your sprinklers perform at their maximum output.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 gallon liquid pool chlorine,
• 1 gallon muriatic acid,
• funnel

1. 
    
   Well head

   Locate Well Head
   
   The most difficult part of this project is locating the head of your well. If you know where it's located, then the rest of the process is very easy. (When we found our well-head, it didn't have a cap. So we opened the pipe to create a hole for one. This allows us to open it once a year to clean out the well.)

2. Cleaning
   
   Place the funnel into the well-head opening. Carefully pour one gallon of liquid chlorine into the sprinkler well. Making sure you follow safety instructions on the label pertaining to fumes and skin contact.
   
   Tightly replace well-head cap. Allow chlorine to sit in well for one hour.

3. 
    
   Sprinkler release valve (red) with spigot (left)

   After one hour, open the release valve on your sprinkler pump. You DO NOT want the well-water to move through the pipes in your yard--this would harm the pipes as well as your lawn and garden. Open the spigot and turn on the pump to allow the water to flow out. It may take a few seconds for the water to pump up, be patient, it will come out and be full of pipe-clogging gunk! Once the water runs clear, repeat step 2 and 3 using the muriatic acid.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do this once a year, you will have a sprinkler system that runs at its optimum performance, allowing you to grow a beautiful green lawn and lush garden!
• Follow safety instructions on the labels pertaining to fumes and skin contact.

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide