RETIC FAQ'S
Got a question about your reticulation system? You’re not alone! Whether your sprinklers aren’t popping up, your system won’t turn off, or you’re just wondering how long to water your lawn, we’ve got you covered.
At Mr Retic, we know how important a reliable irrigation system is for keeping your garden green and healthy. That’s why we’ve put together this handy FAQ section to help you troubleshoot common issues and keep your retic running smoothly.
If you can’t find the answer you need, feel free to get in touch – we’re always happy to help!
RETIC MAINTENANCE & tROUBLESHOOTING
Common causes of retic or sprinklers not turning on include power supply issues, a faulty solenoid, a blocked filter, or a problem with the controller. Mr Retic is able to attend and troubleshoot any issues with your retic system or sprinklers not turning on, and fix the issue. Please check our pricing here, or contact us to make a booking.
If your reticulation system is not turning off, the most common cause is a stuck or faulty solenoid valve. Dirt or debris inside the valve can prevent it from closing properly, causing water to continue flowing.
Another possibility is an issue with the controller, such as an incorrect program setting or a system malfunction. Electrical faults, like damaged wiring or a short circuit, can also keep the system running.
High water pressure may sometimes prevent valves from closing fully, or the manual override might have been accidentally left on. To fix the issue, turn off the main water supply, check the controller settings, and inspect the solenoid valve for blockages or damage. If you need assistance with this, contact us to make a booking.
If water is still coming from your sprinklers even after turning off your reticulation system, it’s likely due to a stuck or faulty solenoid valve. When debris, dirt, or a worn-out diaphragm prevents the valve from closing properly, water continues to flow through the system.
Another possible cause is residual water draining from low-lying sprinklers, which is normal and should stop after a short time. If the issue persists, there may be an issue with the controller is still sending a signal to the valve.
If you need assistance to diagnose and fix the issue, contact Mr Retic to make a booking.
We recommend that everyone with a reticulation system tests their systems once the Winter Sprinkler Ban has concluded (the beginning of September), or just before the weather starts to heat up in Perth. This is to ensure your sprinklers, filters and solenoids are all working, so your retic system is functioning correctly for Summer. If you would like to book us for a retic check-over and service, please contact us to make a booking.
Usually the reason why some of your sprinklers are not working (whilst other sprinklers on the same station are), could be a blocked nozzle, a broken sprinkler head, a split in the pipe, or low water pressure. Mr Retic is able to attend your property to investigate why some of your sprinklers aren’t working, and get them working for you again. Please check our pricing here, or contact us to make a booking.
If you think you may have a leak in your reticulation system, look for soggy patches, unusually green areas of your lawn or garden, reduced water pressure, or reduced water coverage of your sprinklers. , Unusually high water bills are usually a good indication that you may have a leak in your retic system, if you have checked and the leak is not inside the house. To locate the leak, check all sprinklers are not leaking more water than they should, and dig carefully along the pipes to look for any split pipes. Don’t forget to also check all of your solenoids – as a failing solenoid may also be the source of your water leak.
Mr Retic is a Waterwise Approved Irrigator and is able to investigate leaks and assist with submitting leak allowances to the Water Corporation. Find more infomation about leak allowances, check our pricing, or contact us to make a booking.
If some of your sprinklers are not popping up when your reticulation system turns on, it’s usually due to low water pressure, blockages, or mechanical issues.
Low water pressure can occur if there are too many sprinklers running on the same zone, a leak in the system, or a partially closed main water valve. Blockages from dirt, sand, or debris can also prevent sprinklers from rising fully. Sometimes, the sprinkler heads themselves can become worn out, stuck, or buried too deep in the soil.
To fix the issue, check for leaks, clear any blockages, and make sure the water pressure is sufficient. If needed, clean or replace the affected sprinkler heads, and consider adjusting the number of sprinklers per zone to balance the water flow.
Mr Retic is able to assist with sprinkler and retic system maintenance, contact us to make a booking.
Unfortunately, low water pressure in reticulation systems can be one of the most time consuming issues to diagnose and fix.
If your retic system has low water pressure, we would first advice that you check if you have any leaks in your retic, missing sprinkler heads, or splits in your pipes.
If you have filters on your retic water supply, we would recommend checking that your filter isn’t blocked. If you are using poly pipe or dripline, make sure they aren’t kinked, broken or split, as that will cause low pressure in those areas.
If you have recently added additional sprinklers to the station experiencing low water pressure, you may have too many sprinklers on one station which will cause the low pressure for that station.
Other causes for low water pressure may also include a faulty solenoid
If your lawn has dry patches, the first thing to check is that the retic is working correctly and giving you full coverage of your lawn areas. A good way to check how much water your system is giving your lawn, is to get some water catching cups from your local retic supply store. Place these around your lawn to collect water during a regular watering cycle. These catch cups will have measurements so you can see how many ml’s of water that area of your lawn is getting. Here in Perth we have sandy soil, so you are aiming for 10mm of water each watering cycle.
If your lawn is not getting the recommended water during a water cycle, this could indicate issues with your retic pressure, incorrect coverage of your sprinklers, or you may not be running the sprinklers for long enough (especially if you have low pressure sprinklers). There is more information about sprinkler run times on the Water Corporation Website here.
If you need assistance with getting your retic tested, serviced or some adjustments made to your controller run times or your retic system, contact us to make a booking.
RETIC INSTALLS & SET-UP
It depends on your soil type, water restrictions, and plant needs. Perth typically has very sandy soil, which needs 10mm of water per watering cycle. Here is a handy guide on the Water Corp Website for sprinkler run times based on the type of sprinklers you have.
Always remember that Perth has water restrictions on garden sprinklers with specific watering days based on your house number – and a total sprinkler watering ban during winter to help save our precious water supplies.
Early morning or late evening is best to minimise evaporation and maximise absorption.
In Perth, your watering needs to be completed by 9am if watering in the morning, or starts no earlier than 6pm if watering in the evening.
It is a good idea to water at a time that the wind is at it’s lowest if you are in a windy suburb, as wind will reduce the effectiveness of your watering.
Check for even water coverage, ensure sprinklers are not blocked, and look for dry or overly wet spots.
Yes, but it requires a good level of planning before you get started. Things you will need to consider before building your system include; water pressure, pipe size, and sprinkler placement.
It is a good idea to use professional retic parts from a retic supply store (not the big green shed) who are also able to draw up a plan based on your area and water pressure. They are also able to supply you with all the parts needed to follow the plan provided – which will ensure you have a functioning system at the end of your install.
We are also available to help with elements of your DIY retic install, such as installing the controller, installing the master valve and solenoid stacks, etc. Feel free to contact us to discuss how we can help with this.
No, you don’t need council approval to install a residential retic system, however you will need a licensed plumber to provide a retic ‘cut-in’ with a backflow prevention device and isolation tap. You will also need a licensed electrician to install a hard-wired retic controller, or a powerpoint to plug your retic controller into if it has a power plug.
