Using a Spin-Down Filter To Prevent Plugging In Drip Irrigation Systems

If you have a drip irrigation system you may have experienced problems in the past with your system plugging up—which can be incredibly frustrating and inconvenient. Not only while the system is plugged does it prevent your landscaping from properly getting watered, which in the long run could cause damage to your plants, but it also can take valuable time away from you when you have to spend time cleaning your system and it could become a financial burden if you end up paying someone to do it for you. Thanks to Vu-Flow, there is something you can do to prevent your system from clogging up again and ultimately save you from those inconveniences.

Before covering what can be done to prevent blockage in your drip irrigation system, let’s spend some time going over what causes your system to become plugged in the first place. As we covered in a prior blog about home irrigation systems, sediment is to blame for the problem. Sediment is loose sand, clay and other soil particles that can be found at the bottom of a body of water. It’s the result of erosion and can end up in the water running through your drip irrigation system because of gravity, wind and other water sources.

According to SMART Fertilizer there are a number of advantages to using a drip irrigation system versus other types of irrigation, but like everything it can certainly have its problems as well. One of the main issues that does arise is the clogging of the drip emitters. There are several causes of this clogging, but one of the main ones, as we just pointed out, is sand (or sediment). These particles are typically found in surface water, which is the initial source that will end up feeding your drip irrigation system. Sometimes the particles may be small and over time, as enough builds up around the emitter openings, they can cause clogging. There could be other larger particles too that by themselves are too large to fit through the openings and result in plugging. Either way you’ll end up with the same problem of needing to take the time to unclog your emitter openings all while your plants are failing to get the nutrients that they need.

Because drip irrigation systems don’t use as high of a gallon per minute flow rate as a sprinkler irrigation system for example, the size of the tubing used for the water lines is much smaller. The smaller tubing itself can more easily lead to the lines plugging up as sediment build-up in the lines will close off the opening a lot more quickly. If the lines end up getting plugged, you’ll also need to take time to flush out your system to make sure it can once again run at its full capability. Even if the lines themselves don’t fully become clogged, having sediment running through them will cause wear and tear over time.

A Vu-Flow spin-down filter can allow your drip irrigation system to flow for years without you needing to worry about sediment building up and causing a clog. The centrifugal technology within the filter allows for sediment to be removed from your water before it ever enters your water line meaning you will no longer have to worry about plugging within your drip irrigation system! Once the filter is installed all you need to do is open a valve attached to the filter in order to clean it out! An element sits at the center of the filter that makes the removal of sediment possible, and Vu-Flow offers a large selection of filter element sizes to ensure we have something that will take care of the sediment in your water. A lot of filters available on the market require regular cleaning and replacement cartridges, but Vu-Flow has designed a filter for you that is not only self-cleaning, but also does not require those expensive cartridges.

Purchasing a Vu-Flow spin-down filter in order to prevent sediment plugging up your drip irrigation system is just as important as putting the filter in the right place to maximize its potential and best protect your system. You’ll want to make sure that you place your filter on the pressure side of the pump, after the pressure tank. The filter should be installed right before the pressure regulator. This helps to ensure that you’re protecting the pump as well as all the lines running down your system and ultimately the emitters.

If you’d like to learn more about a Vu-Flow spin-down filter and other filtration related products to help keep your drip irrigation system running at full capacity for a long time, visit our website at www.vuflow.com. You can also call 1-800-833-5171 in order to talk to a live customer service representative.

If you want to stop being inconvenienced with the constant plugging of your drip irrigation system due to sediment build-up, purchase and install a Vu-Flow spin down filter today!


Source Notes: All information in this article related to the impact from sediment build-up in drip irrigation systems came from SMART Fertilizer.