Planning On Replacing Your Irrigation Pump System?

There's no single tell-tale sign or test that can reliably predict the imminent or certain end of the road. But we do know that there are a number of measurable signs that point to the right time for a replacement! Let's begin with what should be your two guiding principles:

1. Avoid Crisis Decision-Making!

We can't emphasize this point enough. We've seen a lot of situations where decisions have been made in a crisis due to catastrophic failure. Of course, situations like this can be avoided by paying attention to our No.2 guideline below! However, not all pump replacement projects are caused by neglect - age also plays a significant part. The important thing is to understand how and when to prepare for this large financial investment through good planning and regular monitoring of pump system performance and costs.

2. Look After Your Investment!

So you've got your new irrigation pump system in place and it's looking good! Routine maintenance and proper usage go a long way toward maximizing the life of the pump equipment and your initial investment. From fittings and pipes to valves and controllers, monitor your pump system for any malfunction and take care of small repairs along the way.

Effective Water Management - The Bigger Picture

Aligning effective water conservation and irrigation needs will continue to challenge us all; here in Florida it's no different. We speak to communities and businesses all over the State, and conserving water resources and protecting water quality is a major focus for them. So how is it possible to combine additional concerns around conservation with ensuring areas that need irrigation receive the water they need?

First of all, good planning and monitoring of the system will ensure that when needed, pump equipment is renovated or replaced in a timely manner within budget. This approach can not only extend the useful life of any system but avoid wasting water.

However, when an aging pump system is allowed to limp along (sometimes for years) the entire irrigation system incurs damage - from the irrigation mainline to piping and fittings. You'll notice unexpected costs increase along with the number of repairs. You need to know when it's time to stop the repairs and replace the pump system.

Whether simply caused by age or neglect, deciding to replace an irrigation pump is a significant decision. The best way to begin the process is to assess the actual status of your current system.

Evaluate Your Current Pump System Running Costs

Make time to annually review the costs related to running your pump system. From pump system routine maintenance and energy use to water quality costs; and related expenses like irrigation maintenance and minor/major repairs, to sod replacement and other landscaping costs you need to know from year to year exactly what you're spending.

Evaluate Your Current Pump System’s Fitness

Assessing the condition of an existing irrigation pump system is more complicated than evaluating simpler components such as sprinkler heads or other irrigation system parts. If you haven't done this already, you should; a replacement pump system is a big investment and you need to know you've made the right decision. Because this is the case, we spoke to pump system manufacturers, designers and engineers, professional associations and irrigation professionals to get their feedback on the most important questions to ask and answer in order to get a real handle on the state of your pump system.

The result of this consultation is our eBook "When Is It Time To Replace Your Pump System?" with advice on assessing costs; what constitutes a Pump System Audit; and a 7-point guide to the signs your pump system needs replacing.