The art of troubleshooting

One of the most challenging aspects of an irrigation technician’s job is the complex nature of an irrigation system. In addition to the hydraulic side of the system and all the difficulties associated with a piping system that is usually buried and unknown, there is the control side, typically electronic, and commonly now, there is a communication piece, which can be transmitted over wires or wirelessly. Beyond the hardware, the technician is also often responsible for scheduling the system efficiently, which requires knowledge and understanding of the complex interaction with water, plants and soil.

Regardless, when any of those aspects of the irrigation system are not functioning correctly, the tech needs to have the skills to be able to strategically troubleshoot and then repair or correct the problem.

First, let’s make sure we understand what “troubleshooting” really is. Troubleshooting is the process of strategically and precisely isolating where the problem exists before making the diagnosis and any necessary repairs. Another way to look at it: Troubleshooting is a process of determining what the problem isn’t to determine what it is. Troubleshooting is not a process of trying different repairs until something works.

Some irrigation technicians have a natural ability to troubleshoot, and that gives them an advantage. They can quickly isolate the different areas of an irrigation system and drill into where the problem exists before repairing. Technicians without those natural skills must practice the process of troubleshooting in addition to learning how to perform the actual repairs. Business owners, service managers and technicians all benefit from identifying the presence of troubleshooting skills and adjusting their training programs accordingly.

The second part of the troubleshooting process is having the right tools and understanding how to use them. Is it always necessary to have the right tools? No, not always, but the right measurement tools will always make the process of isolation and diagnosis more efficient.

“While irrigation techs need a lot of diverse knowledge and skills to do their jobs, having a troubleshooting strategy with a process is key.”

On the hydraulic side of the system, the goal is to ensure that there is an appropriate quantity of quality water available, as well as the appropriate amount of pressure needed for adequate performance. A problem can be isolated to the hydraulic side by removing the electrical or communication side of the system to see if it affects the symptom of the problem. Then, the process is to start isolating the precise location of the problem and then the cause. Can this be done without the right tools? Probably, but having the right tools to accurately measure differences in pressure (gauges on fittings, pitot tubes, etc.) will get to the isolation and diagnosis more efficiently.

On the electrical side, the objective is to make sure there is adequate current and voltage to ensure the solenoid plunger lifts when needed to open the flow of water. Could this be done without the right tools? Well, yes, but it would take more time and might not allow you to identify the specific cause of the problem.

One way to at least identify where the problem exists is “halfing,” where the problem is steadily isolated by determining the halfway point, splitting the path and seeing if the problem still exists. With proper tools (multimeter), we can quickly isolate the controller from the wire path by checking the voltage output of the controller and then the resistance of the field wiring and solenoid. If the problem is on that circuit, we can find the wire path and solenoid with locating tools, then isolate each. Sure, it could be done without the tools, but not efficiently.

Nowadays, many of our irrigation controllers are remotely accessible, with several methods of connectivity: ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular and other radio frequency, or RF, signals. The troubleshooting process here involves the same type of isolation strategy: isolating the controller, the transmitter, the receiver, etc. Can this be done without tools? It is tricky, but with spare parts and devices that are known to be operational, you can isolate parts of the communication path, but you can’t identify the specifics or magnitude of the problem.

While irrigation techs need a lot of diverse knowledge and skills to do their jobs, having a troubleshooting strategy with a process is key. If you are a tech or you are training techs, understanding the difference between troubleshooting skills and the skills needed to perform the repairs is important. Once the ability to troubleshoot is developed, having the right tools — and knowing how to use them — will go a long way toward getting the jobs done efficiently and quickly.

Christopher Pine, CLWM, CID, CIC, CLIA, CIT, MCLP, is a principal of IrriTech Training and the president of BluGreen Solutions in Pocasset, Massachusetts. He can be reached at chris@blugreensolutions.com.