Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone , South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on July 12, 2013.Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, Bobby. This user is located in Atlanta, GA Zone 7B. This was originally posted on July 11, 2013.
Now you people that have leaking EB can see why a lot of us have the water controlled by a timer,which will only supply water to your AWS for a short period of time each day..Then if you have a problem with leaks(which you probably will) ,at least you won't run up a high water bill..AWS are just not that dependable..Many of us have found that out the hard way..
I beg to differ with your assessment. The AWS is very dependable... just ask the multitudes who have it successfully installed in their gardens. The comparatively few who do have problems are the ones you mostly hear about. Even then, many of the reported problems can be traced to improper installation, rough handling, and not researching the advice and hard-learned lessons from seasoned users.
There are three main areas that can cause trouble later:
-- The nipple on the sensor is fragile... trying to get the tubing fully seated on it can be a challenge. We've solved that by using boiling water to soften the tubing long enough to push it all the way onto the nipple. Once it cools, nothing is going to get that tubing off the sensor.
-- The filter that comes inserted in the regulator is totally useless. You must invest in a flushable, 150-200 mesh filter to trap all the minerals and gunk that exists in your water supply... believe me, it is there, and clogs will happen eventually without the filter.
-- The sensor reacts to the water level at the tube. A box that is not level can give a false result. If the water level is higher at the tube, that can cause the sensor to turn off... resulting in not enough water elsewhere in the reservoir. If the level is lower in the tube corner, that can cause the sensor to deliver more water, resulting in an overfill/overflowing/leaking condition.
The improper seating of the watering tube is critical here... it must be at an angle, in the corner, touching both sides of the box. There must be no obstruction (mix or roots) under the tube preventing full seating. Equally important, the sensor must be fully pushed onto the watering tube.
Other causes of leaks can be from roots wicking water at the overflow hole. That has nothing to do with the AWS, but the AWS often takes the blame.
If the tubing is properly seated on the fittings, there should be no leaking or disconnection. The pressure is very low, not enough to cause the tubing to blow off. If more security is needed, wire ties can be installed as extra insurance.
With proper installation and maintenance, the AWS will give years of convenience and freedom... being 'married to the farm' all summer is no fun.
Mickie
