A sprinkler pump does exactly what it sounds like! A sprinkler pump is designed to pump water from a water source and supply it to an in-ground irrigation system. These pumps are made to provide a steady, moderate to high flow of water at a specific pressure to ensure your system delivers enough water to your lawn, shrubs, and flowers. Typically pumps will also save you money on water bills because you won’t have to use drinkable/potable water from your local water utility company. Sprinkler pumps are most commonly used in Florida because the water table is so high and can pull water from other water sources such as a well, lake, or canal. When your sprinkler pump fails, professional irrigation pump replacement and repairs are often necessary to get the system back up and running.
The most common pumps in the irrigation industry are centrifugal pumps, especially in the state of Florida. A centrifugal pump works with a pump start relay and pulls water from wells, lakes, or canals. Greenstar Irrigation usually installs a 2-horsepower centrifugal pump on most residential irrigation systems. Our highly trained Greenstar Irrigation technicians can both install and service centrifugal pumps. Buying a pump from a big box store is not recommended because they are not made to last, Greenstar Irrigation installs commercial grade pumps by manufacturers such as Goulds. Further, we recommend professional installation because if a pump is not installed and primed correctly, they can “burn out” and lead to very costly irrigation pump repairs.
At Greenstar Irrigation, we are pump and well specialists with immense experience providing irrigation pump replacement and repair for commercial, industrial, and residential sprinkler and irrigation systems throughout the Miami-Dade County area. Contact us today online or by phone at 305-661-6958 to discuss your sprinkler pump replacement needs or schedule an irrigation system repair service call.
Our Irrigation Pump Replacement Includes Replacing the Following New Items
When performing any sprinkler or irrigation pump replacement service, we first locate and expose the well head. We replace the well head screen and check valve along with all accompanying components. Often pump motors burn out because they lose prime. All of these items work hand in hand. The screen is the first line in defense from rocks and debris being sucked up into the system. We then replace the check valve. The check valve opens when the system is activated and closes when the system is turned off to help maintain the pumps prime. Typically, debris gets sucked through the well and if there is no screen (or the screen has deteriorated) you can get large rocks and debris caught in the check valve, causing the pump to lose prime, thus running your pump without water and burning out the motor.
Additional Irrigation Pump Replacement & Repairs
The other components that work together with your pump to maintain efficiency could fail or have issues associated with them as well. Each of these items are an important part of the irrigation system allowing everything work in harmony.
Pump Priming
If your pump is malfunctioning, there could be several issues that your Greenstar Irrigation technician will need to troubleshoot. If the water pump will not prime, we will check for any leaks or air gaps. We need to make sure there is a complete removal of air from intake/ suction line.
Check Valves and Foot Valves
During any irrigation pump replacement or repair service, we will also need to make sure the check valve or foot valve is sealing and holding properly. A check valve is a brass or PVC device that stops the flow of water with a spring or rubber seal. It holds water in place on the sprinkler line and is commonly found right next to the pump, right at the bank of the canal or lake, or next to the well head.
Foot valves are submersed in the canal/lake or in the well at the end of the pipe. They function similarly to the check valve and hold water in place on the sprinkler line, but they also have a screen at the end of the valve. Since foot valves “sit” elevated in the water, the screen ensures that when the water current pulls, the valve does not collect debris or sediment that can clog it. When pulling from any body of water, the suction line needs a screen to protect the check valve and pump. Debris will cause a check valve to fail and the pump to lose prime. You can use what is called a lake screen or a canal screen to prevent debris from blocking water flow and damaging the pump. Lastly, antimicrobial screens can be used as well because they help prevent the buildup of algae and are designed to last.
Duck Floats
Greenstar Irrigation strongly recommends the installation of duck floats. Duck floats look exactly what they sound like and keep a foot valve or lake screen elevated in a canal or lake so it can pull clean water. Since the bottom of canals and lakes are dirty and contain debris and rocks, a duck float will ensure that your foot valve or lake screen is constantly filtering in clean water. If the foot valve or lake screen sits at the bottom of your canal or lake, the screen could possibly get clogged and restrict water flow. In addition, you run the risk of getting sediment into the suction line, which could do potential damage to your irrigation components down the line.
Pump Start Relay
A pump start relay is an electrical device that allows your irrigation timer to communicate with the pump. This device is imperative when you are using a pump to supply water to your irrigation system. Pumps are built to use normal house currents; the relay acts as a switch and sends power to the pump only when “told so” by the irrigation controller. When a pump is to be operated by the controller, a pump start relay must be used. At Greenstar, our highly trained irrigation technicians can both connect and install a pump relay to your system, as well as troubleshoot if the relay is not working correctly. A pump can often malfunction if it is not set to the proper voltage or if it is not wired correctly. Greenstar will check to ensure your pump is set to the proper voltage. For residential systems, pumps are typically set to 120 volts or 240 volts, depending on the size of the system.
Water Pressure Issues
One of the most common service calls we get regarding pumps is the water pressure. Our irrigation experts will take a series of steps to troubleshoot the water pressure issue, but we first make sure that your sprinkler pipe size is correct and evaluate that the water flow output matches the intake rate.
Schedule Your Irrigation Pump Replacement & Repair Services
Lawn and garden sprinkler systems are the best option for anyone wanting to maintain a regular and hassle-free watering schedule.
At Greenstar Irrigation, we are experts when it comes to ensuring your sprinkler system runs efficiently. Whether you need a complete system upgrade or simple repairs and irrigation pump replacement, contact us today. We serve the Miami-Dade County area including Miami-Dade County area including Miami, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Doral, Key Biscayne, Miami Shores, Miami Springs, and West Kendall.
