The most sensitive points of drip irrigation systems are the small emitter holes, 1.6 mm or 2.0 mm in diameter, on the pipes. Silt, clay, algae or sand particles in your water source clog these holes and disrupt irrigation. Filter stations are the heart of your irrigation system, and unless they are maintained regularly, clogging of the system is inevitable.
What Is Backwashing?
Backwashing is a cleaning process triggered when the pressure difference (DP) between the filter inlet and outlet increases. By reversing the direction of water flow, the sediment that has built up on the filter discs or screen is flushed out through the drain valve. Automatic systems do this on their own, while in manual systems the valves must be directed by hand.
Points to Watch in Filter Maintenance
- Monitoring Pressure Difference: The filter must be cleaned whenever the difference between the inlet and outlet pressure gauges exceeds 0.8 bar.
- Chemical Cleaning of Discs: At the end of the season, filter discs should be soaked and washed in acidic solutions against scale and algae deposits.
- Sealing Gaskets: The O-ring seals on the filter cover should be checked at every cleaning and replaced with new ones if worn.
Regular maintenance of your filters extends the life of your drip irrigation pipes and saves you from costly pipe replacement expenses. Our Sistem Vana technical support team is always by your side throughout your maintenance process.
