The ‘easy’ stuff

Tips and Tricks to Ensure Safety and Efficiency of Your Sprinkler System

While there are a few easy things you can do to ‘manage’ your Irrigation System, we recommend you have one of our Service Technicians perform actual repairs.

There are thousands of feet of direct burial Control Wire with dozens of waterproof connections that are essential for proper automatic valve activation. The thousands of feet of buried pipe connected by dozens of pipe fittings can be very ‘tricky’ to repair; if any dirt enters your system during repairs, it WILL impact operation of your valves and sprinkler heads. Let us help!

Backflow Testing

Mickman Brothers is licensed to perform Backflow Testing on your Automated Underground Irrigation System. This is something you should test annually, as it is one of the most important parts of your irrigation system, assuring your homes water supply is safe.

By law, it is required to test your Backflow Unit annually, whether you have an RPZ or PVB unit. Contact Mickman Brothers Irrigation Team to schedule this service by filling out the form on the right side of this page!

Backflow Procedure (PDF)


‘Seasonal Adjust’ of your Controller

Our Service Technicians will set the watering time for each zone according to your soil type and shade/sun over each zone during the Spring Start-Up and Mid-Season Checks.

However, there is a ‘Seasonal Adjust’ button on most controllers allowing you to adjust the amount of water according to weather conditions. For instance, in the Spring it is wetter than in mid-summer. At this time of the year one may wish to set the Seasonal Adjust to, say, 60%.


Rain Sensor

Our Service Technicians will set the watering time for each zone according to your soil type and shade/sun over each zone during the Spring Start-Up and Mid-Season Checks.

On each Irrigation System we Install or Service, we install/maintain a Rain Sensor to discontinue watering during or immediately after a rain event.

However, there is a ‘Seasonal Adjust’ button on most controllers allowing you to adjust the amount of water according to weather conditions. For instance, in the Spring it is wetter than in mid-summer. At this time of the year one may wish to set the Seasonal Adjust to, say, 60%.


Sprinkler Head Repair/Replacement

Common issues include arc adjustment, plugged nozzles or leaky seals around the ‘pop-up shaft’. It is not advisable for one to purchase ‘generic’ sprinkler heads at discount stores; these components are made in the most inexpensive way possible and should not be relied upon. The best course of action is to have one of our Service Technicians make a visit to make these repairs/adjustments.

 

Maximizing the efficiency of your Irrigation System

If your system is more than 7 years old, you may want to consult with your Service Technician to discuss the option of installing components that are more efficient. Newly designed Controllers and Sprinkler Heads are more efficient and will minimize the cost of watering while making the most of our water resources.

 

Since 1975, Mickman Brothers has provided irrigation services throughout central Minnesota and the Twin Cities area. For more information, please call 763.413.3000.