How to fix common irrigation leaks

Irrigation systems can leak for a number of reasons, resulting in unnecessary water loss. Drippers can block up or blow off, joints can leak and pipes can split.

It’s important to check your system regularly to make sure that leaks are kept to a minimum.

If you do find a leak, they are often quick and easy to repair. Below are some instructions to fix most irrigation leaks:

• If your drippers are blowing off, your pipes continually split or your joints just don’t seem to stay together, it’s probably a sign that you have too much pressure running through your irrigation lines.  You can buy in-line pressure reducers or regulators to help keep your system together.
• Reducers work by reducing the water pressure, and regulators set the pressure to a certain level.
• Estimate how many drippers you have on the line and visit your local garden shop for some advice on which option (reducer or regulator) would best suit your garden.
• Sometimes, when dripper lines get to a certain age, they can become brittle and leaks can keep reappearing. If that’s the situation in your garden, there is not much else you can do but to pull them all out and start again.
• Leaks in your lawn irrigation system can reduce water pressure, causing your pop-ups to stop popping up!
• The type of pipe you have connecting your pop-ups can affect how easy or hard these leaks are to fix. These pipes could be white PVC, or the more DIY user friendly, black polypipe.
• Often it’s easier to call in a garden expert to fix leaking pop-ups.  Why not call one of our registered irrigators and get a free Garden Tune Up!?

Quick tips

• Look out for areas in your garden that are too wet or green.
• Turn on your irrigation and walk along your line to look for leaks. If your irrigation lines are buried, listen for escaping water or wet patches.
• When cutting pipes, make sure the cuts are nice and square so they join easily to other pipes.
• If using joiners, push the pipes on as far as they go for a good seal.