The days are heating up fast so now is the time to check your misting system to make sure it will be ready when you need it.
First, you should replace the mister system particle filters on the system. If you have secondary filters, such as a polyphosphate filter for calcium in the water, replace it too. Tighten and check the fittings to make sure they’re tight and secure.
Hook up the system, then check the water pump (or water source) to check that it’s doing the job. If your water pump needs oil, examine it and lubricate per the pump’s instructions. Examine the electrical connections to be sure they’re properly connected and check the wire’s insulation for cracks, repairing any that have worn out.
Now start the pump and follow the length of the mist system hoses, inspecting it for leaks. If your misting system makes use of stainless steel mist line, it shouldn’t be much of a issue. Simply examine the joints and fittings for leaks. Tighten up any fittings that may have come loosened. If your system has nylon tubing, you’ll want to examine the total system for cracks and ruptures.
Take note of any misting nozzles that are not misting properly or are leaking rather than spraying. Misting nozzles that drip profusely are likely to have enlarged orifices and must be replaced with a new one. Blocked nozzles will have no water coming from them, or a little spray and perhaps a little dripping.
Once you’ve turned off the system, remove and replace the worn-out nozzles with new high-quality misting system nozzles. Make sure they have the same size orifice as the old nozzles. Unscrew the blocked nozzles and look for dirt in the fixture and also in the bottom of the nozzle. If they are clear, then check the nozzle spray hole on the front of the nozzle. If you are located in a region that has hard water, the mist nozzle may be clogged by calcium deposits. If there are lime deposits on the face, gently scrape them off being careful to not damage the orifice. It may be feasible to just simply scrape the deposits from the top of the mister nozzle. If the deposits are on the inside of the mister nozzle hole, it may be possible to dissolve the blockage by soaking the nozzles in lime remover .
What a lot of expert mist system dealers do is just change out all the mist nozzles since it’s less difficult and takes a lot less time than to try to clear out every mist nozzle, and the price of mist system nozzles is fairly low when you buy them in bulk.
If your misting system uses AmFog mister nozzles, you can determine the thread by the marking on the side of the nozzle – cross-hatching indicates 12-24 thread, while straight grooves indicate 10/24. The color of the o-ring on the AmFog nozzles tells you which orifice it has. Be sure you’re looking at the o-ring on the nozzle itself, not the o-ring on a nozzle extender or anti-drip body.
Once you’ve taken care of the maintenance on your mister system, it’s time to start enjoying a cooler summer!