Dry patches, a station that won’t switch off, or a lawn that never dries? Here are the most common Perth reticulation faults, what you can fix yourself, and when to call a plumber.
Reticulation Not Working? Common Perth Retic Faults & Fixes
You head outside on your watering day, and the lawn is bone dry. Or there’s a soggy patch near the driveway that never seems to dry out.
Common reticulation faults range from simple power issues to underground pipe leaks. Most can be found by checking your controller, solenoid valves, and sprinklers in that order. The usual problems fall into four areas: the controller and power supply, the solenoid valves, the sprinklers and nozzles, and hidden leaks or low pressure.
This guide covers the most common reticulation faults and fixes, what you can safely sort out yourself, and when to call the experts.
Start With a Quick Check of Your Retic System
Rule out the simple things before you start digging:
- Is the controller set to “auto”? Not “off”, “rain delay” or “manual”.
- Is the water turned on? Check the supply tap or bore isolation valve.
- Is it your watering day? Sprinkler systems in Perth must comply with local watering restrictions. Most Perth households also have a Winter Sprinkler Switch-Off from 1 June to 31 August. Check the Water Corporation’s website for your current roster.
Controller and Power Faults
Symptom: The Whole System Is Dead, or the Screen Is Blank
This often follows a storm, power outage, or RCD trip.
Fix
- Make sure the plug is firmly in the socket, then test the outlet with another appliance.
- Check your house switchboard for a tripped circuit breaker or RCD.
- On older controllers, check for a blown internal fuse or a flat backup battery.
Controllers need regular checking and programming to work properly. After any power cut, reset the clock and check each station’s run times.
Anything beyond the plug or switchboard is a job for a licensed electrician.
Solenoid Valve Faults
Symptom: One Station Won’t Turn On, or Won’t Turn Off
Faulty solenoid valves are the usual reason a single zone misbehaves.
Fix
- Check the wiring. Look for loose, chewed, or corroded wires at the controller and in the valve box. Corrosion is a common cause of failure in Perth’s damp, sandy ground.
- Check the wire tags. If the wires are connected to the wrong terminals, the controller sends the signal to the wrong station.
- Won’t shut off? Sand or debris is often stuck in the diaphragm. Turn the water off, unscrew the solenoid top, and flush it out.
- Won’t turn on? The solenoid coil may have burnt out. You can usually replace just the coil rather than the whole valve.
Sprinkler and Nozzle Problems
Symptom: Dry Patches, Uneven Coverage or Pop-Ups Stuck Down
Blocked or broken sprinkler heads are a common cause of dry patches in the lawn. In garden beds, dripper problems usually come down to clogged emitters.
Fix
- Unscrew the nozzle and filter, then run the station to flush out any sand, dirt or roots.
- Replace heads that have been snapped, crushed by mowers or cars, or are stuck down.
- Fix uneven watering by adjusting the nozzle settings and spacing.
Matched nozzles and a proper sprinkler layout water the whole yard evenly, with less waste.
Low Water Pressure Across Your Stations
Sprinklers that barely pop up or only dribble usually point to low pressure. Common causes:
- Too many sprinklers on one zone for your supply to handle
- A restricted supply, such as a partly closed valve or a blocked filter
- Blocked, crushed, or kinked pipes underground
- A hidden leak bleeding pressure out of the line
Fixes include splitting the zone into two stations, cleaning the filter, or fitting special low-pressure nozzles.
If you’re also getting low pressure in the house, the problem is likely your water supply rather than the retic. Our guide on how to fix low water pressure in your house is a good place to start.
Underground Pipe Leaks
Symptom: Soggy Patches, Pressure Drops or a High Water Bill
Watch for:
- Wet patches in the lawn that never dry out
- Pressure dropping across several stations
- A water bill that’s suddenly higher than usual
Why Leaks Are Hard to Spot in Perth
Irrigation leaks are often hidden underground, and thanks to Perth’s sandy soils the water can drain away before it ever pools. If you’re wondering why your water bill is so high, a retic leak is a strong possibility.
Fix
Turn off the controller, run one station manually, and walk the line looking for wet sand or pooling water. Once you’ve found the leak, dig out the broken section, cut out the damage, and join it with a slip repair coupling or compression fitting.
When to Call a Plumber
Call a licensed plumber if the leak is on the supply side before your retic, you can’t find it, or your meter keeps ticking over with everything off. Our leak detection team uses specialist equipment to find hidden leaks without digging up your whole yard.
Soggy Lawn or a Water Bill That Doesn’t Add Up?
A hidden leak on your water supply can cost you hundreds before you spot it. Our licensed Perth plumbers will find it and give you a fixed price upfront.
Bore and Pump Problems
On a bore, watch for a pump that runs with little water coming out, cycles on and off, or leaves orange stains on paving.
High levels of dissolved iron in Perth bore water can clog irrigation systems, blocking nozzles, filters and solenoids. To keep it under control, clean your filters regularly and think about an iron filter.
Bore pump electrical faults and pulling a pump are specialist jobs, so leave those to a bore specialist or electrician.
How to Keep Your Reticulation System Running
Routine maintenance means checking your solenoids, filters and watering schedule, and the Water Corporation recommends regular inspections to keep irrigation systems efficient. A simple routine:
- Test every station at the start of the watering season in September, before the summer heat arrives.
- Change your run times as the weather changes.
- Clear sand off sprinkler heads after windy days.
- Fix small issues early, ideally in the cooler months while the system is switched off.
A little preventive maintenance now saves you a dead lawn and a big bill later.
Still Losing Water? Let Proud Plumbing & Gas Find the Leak
Lawn still soggy or the meter still spinning? That’s usually a hidden leak, and it’s costing you every day it runs.
Our licensed Perth plumbers will find it without digging up your yard and give you a fixed price before any work starts. You’ll pay a $0 call-out fee during business hours, and we’re available 24/7 for burst supply lines.
Stop paying for water your garden never sees. Book a Leak Check or call (08) 6185 3008 today.
