Opening Up the Irrigation System

I have taken on the task of opening up the Irrigation System.  As usual, when I look to do something for myself, I consult YouTube.  There are How To Videos on nearly everything you can imagine.  In this case Hunter, the system manufacturer, has a series of videos covering the various steps and adjustments.  Reviewing these videos I’ve refined the best practices into a personalized checklist.

Start up Checklist:

1. Check Irrigation Control Box; make sure all water valves are open. This will allow water to flow through the system and push out the air.
2. Turn on water slowly to avoid bursting pipes; let the water run for a while to push out all the air and fill the pipes with water. As all valves are open, all zones will function so there will be insufficient water pressure built up to power the sprinkler heads (i.e., they won’t pop up).
3. Turn off water and close water valves in Irrigation Control Box
4. Turn on sprinklers from Controller Panel zone by zone
   • Check Sprinkler heads are [1] not broken [2] heads pop-up [3] properly adjusted
   • Check for line breaks
5. Controller Panel Check
   • Make sure clock is adjusted
   • Check backup batteries
   • Check Watering Schedule
6. Make sure rain sensor is working
   • Confirm sensor status is Green
   • Pour water into sensor 
   • Confirm sensor status is Red

Head Adjustments Videos Cross-referenced to maintenance task [Video #]:

• (Rotor) Wrong rotation [#1] [#2]
• (Rotor) Wrong radius [#2]
• (Rotor) Heads plugged / Clean Head filters [#3]
• (Spray) Wrong Arc [#4]
• (Spray) Wrong radius [#4] 
• (Spray) Heads plugged / Clean Head filters [#4]
• (Spray) Leaking – needs new check valve [#4]

Repairs Videos Cross-referenced to task

• (Rotor) Replace Riser Seal [#5]
• (Rotor) Install New Nozzle [#6]

How To Videos:

1. Hunter Rotor Right Stop Alignment
2. How to Adjust a Hunter Rotor
3. Cleaning a Filter on Hunter Rotor
4. Hunter Spray Adjustments and Maintenance
5. Replacing a Hunter Rotor Riser Seal
6. Installing a Nozzle on a Hunter Rotor

The tools I used were:

• The Hunter Adjustment Wrench used to adjust to Rotor Heads
• Vise Grip Pliers used to clasp shaft when the head is extended out of the ground
• Slip-joint Pliers used to remove cap holding the Rotor Tourette in the Canister
• Pipe Cleaner used to clean Nozzle and filters
• Screw Driver used to adjust radius on Spray Heads.
• Battery Tester to test power-backup battery