Don't Forget to Flush

[Oolie]

I noticed several of my drip irrigation lines weren't emitting any water, yearly upkeep of opening the ends returned water flow to all but one tree. That line is getting dissected for further investigation.

[vall]

Mine get clogged with goop every once in a while. It is caused by iron eating bacteria living in the lines.

[Oolie]

I was hoping it was just hard water salts that could be dissolved in sulfuric acid, I will do a test when I cut the line open.

[Jeramyl So CA]

I have had this too.  I just assumed it was part of Drip irrigation that you had to replace the ends every handful of years.  Especially the dripper tubing.  I have had this same problem at multiple houses with filtered systems and non filtered systems.  I just attributed it to hard, mineral water in San Diego

[Kevin Jones]

My water is Municipally sourced... here they use large quantities of calcium to adjust the water's pH....
results in lots of lime building up in the lines and depositing in the water system in various areas.

Kevin

[Daintree]

I don't have a drip system, but I do have misters.  They used to get plugged all the time by scale until I got a descaler and hooked it into the water line.  It supposedly makes the particles "slippery" so they don't stick to things.  Haven't had any clogged misters in two years, and without the irritating monthly cleaning with a needle! 

Carolyn

[johnb51]

Generally speaking, pretty good advice.