Author: Ramon Salazar

As the seasons change, as snow comes and goes, the homeowner has to adapt accordingly. In order to ensure that when the ground begins to thaw, your sprinkler system is ready to be revitalized, you have to be careful about how you undertake things.

Winterizing your sprinklers is one task, but spring startup is another. Starting it again during springtime is an entirely different task with all of its own trials to face.

Tools to Prepare

To save you from the trouble of breaking your sprinklers, let’s get to talking about the steps to turning back on during springtime. First, prepare the following tools:

• Shovel
• Screwdriver
• Sprinkler Adjustment Tool
• Pliers

You will need the shovel earlier on, as we’ll explain later, as a way of testing the readiness of your lawn. The screwdrivers, sprinkler adjustment tool, and pliers are all tools you’ll most likely need in adjusting your sprinkler heads to optimize their performance, so it would be best to keep them on hand.

Remember, remember!

Here are a couple of reminders that you should know before actually reviving your sprinkler system after the passage of winter:

Value your patience

As you will learn, later on, you’ll be spending the majority of your time in this home maintenance task waiting for the right opportunity to spring into action, and the rest you’ll be spending by observing for any cracks, damages, and deficiencies. It’ll take a lot more time than you’d think, but it’s all worth it to keep you from spending your hard-earned cash on replacement parts, or worse—replacing your entire sprinkler system.

Avoiding water hammers

As awesome as water hammers may sound (it’s like they’re a unique power in some 70’s action cartoon), this is what’s referred to when there is a pressure surge that occurs when a fluid is suddenly forced to stop or change direction. Water hammers, in the context of your sprinkler pipes, can cause irreparable damage and cost a lot of money. To avoid water hammers, be sure to take things slowly, and go back to the first reminder.

Startup Time!

Do the Dig Test

This part of the experience is as simple as it gets. All you have to do is ready a shovel and dig into the soil. If it takes too much effort to dig more than a foot into the ground, then your lawn isn’t ready yet for the sprinkler revival.

If the greenery on your lawn is on the verge of death and in need of irrigation then you have no choice but to bust out the good old hose and water your yard the old-fashioned way.

Valves galore

Go to where the shutoff valves in your house are—usually in the basement or somewhere in the backyard. Slowly twist them open so that the water slowly leaks into the pipeline. I say “leaks” because it’s important to take this step slowly: remember, water hammers are a big no-no.

General Maintenance

All that’s left to do is general maintenance. Now that your sprinkler system is back up and running, it’s time to check your valves for leakages and damage, to see if the spray pattern on your sprinklers indicate a need for adjustment, to see if your sprinkler heads are in need of a bit of cleaning, etc.

The invention of a dedicated sprinkler system revolutionized residential and commercial irrigation. If it weren’t for the humble sprinkler, we would still be needing to manually water our lawns with a heavy garden hose every time the plant life in our yards needed watering.

But as fantastic inventions go, they’re not without their own susceptibility to breaking. Yes, sprinkler systems are wonderful inventions, especially the most modern models out there, but every now and again there will still be signs of damage that’ll show. A bit of wear and tear that comes with any material object that we use in our lives.

In the event of faults in your sprinkler system, there’s going to have to be someone to have to fix it. By then, you have two options: fix it yourself, or hire someone to fix it for you.

Whether you intend to make sprinkler system problems a DIY project or contact a service to do the job for you, it’s going to be a lot of help to get a bit of knowledge as to what’s in store for you.

Common Issues

Broken Pipes

When thick roots such as those from a tree grow too close to the pipes under your lawn, it can end up digging into your pipes or breaking them, causing a leak. Broken pipes can also be caused by shovel work that gets too out of hand. For either case, leakages in the pipes can often be detected when you find oddly moist spots in the soil when the water is left running.

Get a bit of PVC cement to patch up the pipes and they’ll be good as new as soon as the cement dries. Of course, this requires a bit of shoveling so prepare a shovel or a trowel, and a lot of elbow grease. For more extensive damage, you’re going to want to replace that part of the piping entirely.

Sputtering Sprinkler Heads

Since the sprinkler heads are the components most visible above ground, they’re going to be facing a ton of damage from all sorts of sources. For one thing, they can be damaged by natural elements such as a strong flood. Sprinkler heads can also face problems when a bit of dirt and grime have found themselves stuck on the sprinkler heads.

The easy solution for this is to shut off the water for a while to inspect your sprinkler heads for what may be causing the irregular irrigation. If it’s just a bit of grime stuck to the head, prepare to get it off with just a simple wash. If the sprinkler head has taken considerable damage from something more extreme, then it would be best to instead replace the head entirely. Depending on the type of head and the materials that it’s made of, you can have a varying range of prices to choose from.

Zones Not Working

If you have several zones in your lawn dedicated to specific grass and greenery, dead zones can end up wilting your precious plants. This particular issue may be a technical problem in the timers or the sprinkler system’s controller. As such, it would be best to get a professional to have a look at this issue.

If the timer or controller is broken beyond repair, it’s going to be a hefty price to pay for a new one but it’s a necessary sacrifice to save the life of your greens.

If you want to hang something on the stucco or plaster walls – whether a frame, a wall clock, or any decorative object, it would be quite challenging because they can easily crack and crumble especially if strained by a power drill. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t hang any decors in your stucco wall. Using the right materials and process, you can easily hang any fancy object on your stucco wall without the need to drill. 

USE ADHESIVE HOOKS 

1. Pick the right adhesive strips 

There are a variety of adhesive strips with hooks that you can use. Pick the one with a strong adhesive capacity designed for outdoor use. Read the packaging for information about how much weight they can support. You must select the one with a higher support capacity that could carry twice as much as the object you are planning to hang. For heavier objects, you can use multiple hooks. If you’re planning to on stucco outdoors, choose an adhesive strip that is rated for outdoors. Otherwise, if you will hang a frame or painting with a hanging wire, choose an adhesive strip with a hook that is fit to accommodate wires. 

2. Clean the wall or surface

Using rubbing alcohol, you can clean or scrub the surface to prepare it for the adhesive application. If there’s any dirt or particle, it will be hard for the adhesive to stick properly to the stucco. Allow it to dry first before sticking the adhesive. 

3. Point and mark the area where you want to apply the hooks 

Use a pencil to mark the point where you want to apply the hook. Applying the adhesive hooks right the first time is much better than removing it to reapply. It is very important to apply it right especially if you’re using multiple hooks or you will need to use wire backing of a frame or painting.  

4. Attach the hooks to the stucco 

Peel off the adhesive backing and place the hooks to the point in the stucco that you mark. Check the packaging for further instructions on how to properly adhere to your hooks to the stucco. Take note that adhesive strips are often difficult to remove, so it is important to stick it correctly the first time. If you need a stronger hold, you can add a touch of hot glue to the adhesive before sticking.

5. Hang your object on the hooks gently

Even if your adhesive hook is strong enough, you may need to hang or attach your objects carefully so that they don’t pop off the stucco. 

 USE A WIRE HANGER

1. Use wire hangers to hang frames with heavyweight 

Be sure to choose the right wire hanger that can pierce into the stucco walls. These are curved steel wires that can almost support over 100 pounds (45 kg). These are also removed easily and can leave a very small hole.

2. Mark the spot where you want to place your hook 

 Using a pencil, you can draw a trace mark where you prefer to place your hook. For objects that require wire backing, including the spot where you want to insert the hook. Larger objects may require multiple hooks to support the wire. Make sure to measure so that the hooks are in proper alignment. You can use a ruler or tape to measure this. 

3. Pierce the wall using the sharp end of the hanger

 It may take some amount of force to pierce the stucco but make sure not to crush or bend the wire hanger. It would help if you rotate the wrist in penetrating the spot. Once a hole is made, the wire must slide through easily.

4. Push the hanger into the wall in a position that the hook is right side up 

Once the wire slide easily through the wall, rotate the hanger so that the straight end of the hook is penetrating against the inside of the wall.

5. Hang the frame or object gently

 The hook should be sturdy enough to hold and support it.

USE A DOUBLE SIDED TAPE 

1. Use outdoor double-sided  mounting tape to hang light frames and objects

You can hang light objects and decor on your stucco wall by using good quality double-sided mounting tape. Just make sure to select one that is designed for outdoor use because these are they have the strongest adhesive capacity. 

2. Clean the surface area with rubbing alcohol

How clean or dirty the surface can affect how well the tape will adhere to the stucco. 

3. Cut strips of tape and stick them on the object that you want to hang

Instead of applying the tape to the wall, attach one side of the tape directly to what you want to hang first. Peel off the one side of the tape and stick it to the object so that it is not obvious when you hang it. Usually, Double-sided tape is strong enough to hold up to 5 pounds (2.3 kg) or even more. 

4. Strip the back of the tape and hang on the wall

Once there is enough tape on the object, you can remove the back of the tape and attach the adhesive to the stucco. 

5. Hold the object against the stucco for a few to make sure it sticks long

It might be quite a shock if you hear your air-conditioner make some noise. This is unusual since technological advancements today made sure that they have sound-dampening technologies. If clanking, buzzing, banging, or other noises are present, then this might be a sign of trouble!

Probable Source of Noise :

Debris Inside the Unit

 A quick fix is all this needs, as long as the debris can be taken out safely. You will quickly identify this if you hear a low buzzing or humming noise coming out of your unit. 

Compressor

When too much pressure is building up within the compressor, it produces a loud whistling noise. Contact a professional right away for this is dangerous. Compressors are tedious to repair, so you will have to replace it most of the time.

Air Filter

 A filter that does not fit correctly may produce some hissing noise. Relatively, this is easy to fix, for you only have to readjust it.

Air Handler

 An electrical problem is the issue when the air handler makes some buzzing noise. Some examples are loose wiring, broken capacitor, arcing, or others. This is best left to the hands of your technician.

Fan

 In some instances, the fan of your air-conditioner might loosen and hit other parts inside the unit. It will also produce clicking noises if something is obstructing it. If left unchecked, this might damage the other parts stopping its motion. 

The fan may also produce noise when its blades are bent or damaged, or they are dirty.

Fan Motor Bearings

 Screeching noises are created if the fan motor bearings are failing, and you might require replacing it. 

Fan Belt

Due to varying temperatures, the fan belt contracts and expands, making it worn over time. It will make squealing noises when it becomes misaligned. You have to replace it or it will break and leave you with no air.

Condensate Drain

 If your condensate drain line does not have a proper trap, it might make some bubbling noises. You can check it yourself, and it would not be hard to fix.

Refrigerant Leak

Contact your HVAC contractor hurriedly if your unit makes loud, screaming, noises. Turn your air-conditioner off once you hear it because a refrigerant leak is what it means, and it is very unsafe. 

Ductwork

 Your ductwork will respond to the change in temperature as your air-conditioner turns on or off; especially if it is metal. This won’t damage your unit, but you can use insulation if you want to reduce the sound.

Isolation Feet

 You might hear a buzzing noise when the isolation feet become worn or cracks. This is because the compressor gets tilted and unbalanced. 

 A good measure is to turn your unit off until proper solutions are done. If what you hear from your air-conditioner is too unsettling, and you are afraid to solve this by yourself, call a professional for support. They are ready to offer us help, after all!

Every summer one of the basic needs of a person to survive the heat, apart from water for bathing and drinking, is an air conditioner. Especially when the weather is really hot and people, especially the elderly to cope with the hot weather because they are prone to hypertension, heatstroke, and dehydration. So it is best to keep them in cold places such as air-conditioned rooms to prevent them from being sick.

Before the arrival of other types of air conditioners, there is a window air conditioner or also known as a room air conditioner as it is best used in small spaces or rooms. It is the simplest type of aircon in which the evaporator emitting cold is inside the room and the condenser emitting heat faces the outside of the room.

But what do you do when your air conditioner suddenly breaks down in the middle of extremely hot weather and you can’t find someone that can repair it?

Don’t worry because you can self-check and repair your air conditioner’s common damage using the tips I will give.

But first, I will point to its parts and functions that are causing common air conditioner problems.

1. Condenser fan — release the hot air from the condenser coil outside the room.
2. Condenser coil — converts the hot air into cool air.
3. Compressor — controls the movement of air and the coolant material inside the air conditioner.
4. Thermostat — controls the air and room temperature.
5. Fan — release air from the air conditioner out of the room.
6. Evaporator coil — used to cool your room.
7. Face panel — contains the air filtration system of the air conditioner.

Once you know what parts are often faulty in your air conditioner, let’s go over the common problems that you can count on in your air conditioner.

The air conditioner does not blow cool air

This is one of the problems many aircon users have because they have purchased this device to provide cold air so what is the use of it if it does not release cold air, right? The most common reason why your aircon cannot produce cold air due to its dirty air filter or damaged condenser coil. When the condenser coil is broken, your aircon cannot convert the hot air into cold air so your air con will not be able to release cold air. When this happens, you should clean your air filter first as it may not allow the cold air to come out because it is dirty. When you have cleaned, and the air is still hot, check your condenser coil located on the exterior part of the unit. When the condenser coil is broken, you have no choice but to replace it, but if the fins are just bent and just simply use a fin comb to straighten it.

The air coming from your air conditioner has a stinky smell

it is normal to have an inside scent when you have food inside your room because the air is just circulating inside but what if there is no food in the room but there’s still a stinking odor coming from your aircon? Often the air can have a bad odor due to the accumulated moisture inside the air con. Moisture can cause odor-causing bacteria like molds that cause bad odors. To solve the problem, always clean your aircon filter and compressor to ensure that there is no accumulated moisture inside the aircon that causes the odor of its air.

Your air conditioner doesn’t turn on 

Are you also one of those that have a mini heart attack when your air con doesn’t turn on even when it’s plugged into the power source, don’t worry because it doesn’t mean that it’s broken. Check by unplugging the cord and installing it again. If the air con doesn’t turn on after checking, look for other possible problems. Check your breaker and fuse that regulates the electric current. Reset the breaker and try to open the air con if it’s not checked for the fuse. The fuse regulates the circuit’s amperage rating. When the amperage rating is lower or higher, the air con will not work so when you find out the fuse is broken, replace it immediately.

Your air conditioner has a weird and loud noise

When your aircon is louder or noisy, it doesn’t mean that there is a phantom or a ghost in your home. It can be the aircon fan belt may be loose or broken. When the fan belt is loose, you can simply attach it more neatly and tighter to the unit, but if it is damaged, immediately replace it for the better performance of your aircon.

Water leaks on the front panel 

This is one of the annoying problems of aircon users because the moisture releases on the face panel instead of on the back of the unit. Supposed to be a metal pan in the bottom of your air con will drain the water out of the hose behind the air con for moisture to escape, but what if that doesn’t happen? Make sure that the aircon level is properly fitted to the hole in for it in your wall to ensure that the drain hose is securely attached downward to the rear of the unit to prevent moisture accumulation inside the metal pan and that can cause moisture exit in the front panel.