1. Where do stains come from?
Many well based irrigation systems produce stains on walls, driveways, sidewalks and even plants, shrubs and trees.
A number of different things present in well water cause stains. Generally the color of the stain indicates what is causing the problem. The following table contains the most common stains and there sources.
| Stain Color | Stain Source |
|---|
| Light yellow | Tannin |
| Red/ Orange | Iron Oxide |
| White ( powder residue ) | Hard Water |
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2. How do Rid O Rust formulas work?
The formulas are made up primarily of what are called "chelating agents." These materials grab the iron, manganese and other metals in the well water and neutralize them so that they won't combine with oxygen to make metal oxide.
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3. How do I prevent rust stains?
Preventing stains before they cover your sidewalks, siding, plants and lawn furniture is the key. With the Rid O Rust System this is a very simple and inexpensive process.
The advantages include:
- No need to repaint every year
- Ugly stains won't form on your sidewalks and plants
- Mineral deposits and scaling won't form on your sprinkler system, ensuring longer system life.
- You can use free well water for irrigation as opposed to expensive municipal water.
- You can fertilize with Grass So Green, while you prevent stains.
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4. How do I treat rust stains?
Tannin:
Organic matter in the well (water-decomposed plant material, etc.) leaves this stain. These stains are best removed by diluted household bleach. If bleach does not remove the stain, the stain may be caused by iron oxide - RUST.
Iron:
Ferrous iron in the well water combines with oxygen to form ferric (iron) oxide. This is the rust stain seen on surfaces hit by the water spray. As an organic stain, iron oxide is best removed with acid. Rid O Rust makes an excellent biodegradable, grass and plant friendly, rust stain remover - Rid O Rust Stain Remover. Rust stains are best prevented with Rid O Rust Formula Products.
Hard Water:
Crystals of calcium carbonate a white deposited by the well water leaves a scale on leaves and other surfaces. They can be wiped off leaves with a mild detergent and water solution. To prevent hard water residue, use Rid O Rust Formula Products.
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5. What is Grass So Green Fertilizer?
Grass So Green is designed to be fed through the irrigation system by an injection system that can deliver lawn fertilizer to any area of the lawn by using the irrigation control clock, providing a steady stream of a small quantity of nutrient during each watering cycle.
- Nitrogen- rich, it enhances grass greening
- It will not burn grass as granular fertilizer can
- Remaining in the root zone from one sprinkler to the next, it will not run off and be wasted or pollute bodies of water
Grass So Green can be mixed into the feeder tank along with Rid O Rust Stain Prevention Formulas! It will not affect the performance of the formula products.
Guaranteed Analysis:
| Total Nitrogen | 18% |
| Available Phosphate | 3% |
| Soluble Potassium | 3% |
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6. Why do I need to winterize my irrigation system?
Every year, before the first freeze, the ritual of irrigation "blow out" becomes the priority for all irrigation systems
that are in regions of the country where the frost level extends below the depth of the installed piping.
Even if you have drained some water out of the system, the remaining water can freeze, expand and
crack the PVC piping (rigid, white pipe), usually from fitting to fitting. Polyethylene pipe (flexible, black pipe)
is used in many freezing climates. Although polyethylene pipe is more flexible and can expand under pressure,
water left inside could freeze and rupture the pipe walls. Freezing water in the backflow assembly will
damage the internal components and could possibly crack the brass body.
To minimize the risk of freeze damage to your irrigation system, you'll need to "winterize" your irrigation system.
Irrigation systems in areas where "winterization" is mandatory are installed using one of three types of
water removal in mind: manual drain, auto drain, or blowout. If you don't know your system type, it
would be best to use the blowout method.
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