Knowing whether you need sprinkler system repairs comes down to being keenly aware of your irrigation/sprinkler system’s efficiency. Regular sprinkler maintenance can help you avoid problems. There are situations that will require you to call in the pros to come and do some repairs.
Your first question may be, “when should I turn my sprinkler back on in Texas?” The timing for turning on a sprinkler system after winter in Texas will vary depending on a few factors such as the location in Texas, weather patterns, and the type of plants in your lawn or garden.
In general, it is safe to turn on your sprinkler system around Austin, Texas in early spring, around mid-March to early April, when the weather starts to warm up and the threat of frost has passed. However, it’s a good idea to monitor the weather forecast and soil moisture levels to determine when to start watering your lawn.
It’s also important to check your sprinkler system for any damage or leaks before turning it on to avoid wasting water and ensure efficient water usage. It’s recommended to do a test run of the system before fully turning it on to ensure everything is working properly.
Here are some things to look out for that will tell you categorically if you need sprinkler repairs or not.
Uneven Watering & Discoloration On Your Lawn
You may need to get your system fixed if you observe inconsistent or unequal watering. When you see things like puddles in some places, parched or brown patches in others, or excessively wet pathways and roads, you might very well determine that the watering is uneven. A blocked sprinkler head, a leaky valve, or other more serious systemic issues that require repair could be the reason for this.
Your lawn and garden should be evenly watered by an efficient irrigation system. When you discover discoloration in your grass, with some sections being greener or browner than others, it is a sign of uneven irrigation.
While most difficulties are brought on by worn-out or clogged parts, some zones may experience electrical troubles that call for a specialist to recalibrate the control unit and wiring.
Pressure Problems
Regulating water pressure in your sprinkler system can be a pretty complex task for your system to manage, and it is therefore quite sensitive. For this reason, if you notice irregular water flow or pressure from your sprinkler heads you would need to get it repaired by a sprinkler expert.
Blockages in the pipes or diminished capacity brought on by tree roots, among other things, are common reasons for under- or over-pressurization.
You should be aware of the precise distance that your sprinklers will always project water when they are functioning properly. Water spouts from sprinklers may not project as far or may even project too far if there is insufficient water pressure, which is a sign that the system needs to be repaired.
Sprinkler Heads Acting Up
If you notice a sputtering spray pattern then it’s a good idea to check the sprinkler heads for obstructions or damage, such as cracked heads or broken valves. Sputtering might also result from cracks in the sprinkler heads, so keep a close eye on them to make sure they’re functioning properly.
It’s important to monitor the spray patterns coming from your sprinkler heads often. If they keep misfiring, there might be a problem with the water pressure, which might be a sign of a more serious issue elsewhere in the system.
Dripping or Leaking Sprinkler System Valves
Valves are essential for ensuring that water is distributed correctly to every area of your yard. None of your valves should consistently drip or leak. Something is definitely amiss if you see regular wet spots close to pressure regulators and filters. You should not ignore them. Deal with them immediately to prevent things from getting worse.
Check the equipment for debris, such as bugs that have died, grass clippings, mildew and bubbles. Control valves that aren’t operating properly might cause zones to become underwatered or overwatered. Therefore, it’s crucial to get them fixed.
Weirdly High Water Bill
Your sprinklers may be malfunctioning if your water bill suddenly increases without any discernible changes in your water usage. This is pretty typical of older sprinkler systems that require some upkeep and repair. A sprinkler expert should inspect your system to prevent you from having to pay for lost water, which may add up rapidly.
After using your sprinklers for a while, if your garden isn’t becoming as green as you would have expected, it may be a sign that one or more parts of your irrigation system are malfunctioning or damaged, causing water to be wasted into the ground before it can ever reach your plants or your lawn.
In such cases, you should definitely have your sprinkler system inspected and repaired as soon as possible.
Sprung a Leak
One of the most obvious indications that your sprinkler system needs to be fixed or replaced is if you discover that it is leaking. It is essential to identify the leak’s primary cause in order to halt it. The leak’s root cause could be as easy as replacing a sprinkler head or as difficult as, say, fixing a leak in buried piping.
Leaks cause overwatering in some areas, which turns your yard muddy. Conversely, a pressure decrease that follows can cause underwatering, which causes a dried-out and withered region of the garden owing to insufficient moisture. Importantly, it contributes to massive water waste and rapidly rising water expenditures.
If it is not addressed promptly, a leak can result in additional damage to the system owing to pressure losses and, therefore, higher repair expenses.
Inadequate Sprinkler System Design
You might have moved into a house with a sprinkler system that was badly planned. As such, there could be a need to repair or replace some or even all of the system. If the sprinklers are not sufficiently spaced apart, among other design flaws, it may result in regions of overwatering or underwatering. It is best to have a specialist examine the situation.
Sprinkler System Repair Checklist: If you notice one or more of the following then give us a call!
- Wet spots visible on lawn
- Water sputtering from valves
- Discoloration of grass
- Water flow under-reaching or overreaching
- Obvious leak in the system
- Unusually high water bill
- Inconsistent spray patterns
- Leaking or dripping valves
- Noticeable underwatering or overwatering
To get expert assistance with sprinkler system repairs, contact us at Smart Earth Sprinklers today! Let us help you get your irrigation system’s efficiency back to 100%.
