How To Take Care of Your Outdoor Mist System

Summer is coming and you’ll soon be needing the mist system that’s been sitting idle since last fall.

The first thing to do is replace the filtration on the misting system. If you have secondary filters, such as one for hard water, replace that too. Tighten and check the fittings to make sure they’re tight and secure.

Hook up the system, then check the pump (or water supply) to see that it’s functioning. Some pumps need lubrication so check yours and lubricate according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Check the electrical connectors to ensure they’re properly connected and inspect the insulation on the wiring for cracks, replacing any that have worn out.

Now start the pump and follow the length of the mister lines, checking it for leaking. If your misting system utilizes stainless steel mist tubing, this shouldn’t be a problem. Take a moment to take a look at the joints and connectors for leaks. Cinch up any fittings that may have come loose. If your system has ABS tubing, you’ll want to check the entire system for cracks and breaks.

Take note of any mist system nozzles that are not spraying properly or are leaking rather than misting. Mister nozzles that drip profusely are likely to be worn out and need to be replaced. Blocked nozzles will have no water coming from them, or a little spray and perhaps a little dripping.

After you’ve turned the system off, remove and replace the worn-out nozzles with new high-quality mister nozzles. Make sure the new ones have the same size orifice as the old nozzles. Remove the clogged nozzles and look for crud in the line and in the base of the nozzle. If they are clear, then check the mist hole on the face of the nozzle. If you are located in a region that has mineralized water, the misting nozzle may possibly be clogged by calcium deposits. If there are mineral deposits on the face, carefully scrape the deposits off being careful not to damage the orifice. It might be feasible to simply just scrape the debris off the surface of the nozzle. If the deposits are inside the mister nozzle spray hole, it may be possible to clean out the blockage by immersing the nozzles in lime removing solution .

You might save a lot of time if you just replace all the old nozzles with new ones.

If your system uses AmFog mist nozzles, you can tell the thread size by the marking on the side of the nozzle – cross hatches indicate 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.

Now that you’ve taken care of the maintenance on your system, you’ll be ready to enjoy a cooler summer!