Behind every lush lawn in Houston, Fulshear, and Katy, TX, is an irrigation system working to maintain the landscaping that makes neighbors green with envy. But, if you’re like most homeowners, you may not give your sprinkler system much thought beyond changing the settings to account for seasonal weather. Despite being a critical factor in maintaining healthy landscaping, sprinklers are admittedly easy to forget. At least until it’s time for a sprinkler system repair.
There are numerous reasons why your sprinkler system could start working poorly or fail to work altogether. Since the Texas heat can dry out your lawn in no time, you’ll want to resolve the issue so that your regular watering schedule can resume. Keep reading to learn about some common problems we encounter when repairing broken sprinkler systems, and you’ll be able to make an educated guess about what’s going wrong with your irrigation system.
6 Ways Your Sprinkler System Can Stop Working
1. Water Leaking From One or More Zones
Maintaining a healthy lawn isn’t an inexpensive endeavor, so large water bills are to be expected. However, if you see a rapid price increase on your invoice, it’s time to have your system checked for leaks. Sometimes leaks are readily apparent, and you may be able to pinpoint the problem area. Other times they may not have progressed to the point where they are noticeable, except for the tell-tale bill.
Repeated Leaks? Schedule a Sprinkler System Repair Immediately
Repeated leaks in the same zone signify that something more serious is wrong with your system. A diaphragm seal controls the water supply to each zone, and repeated leaks in the same zone suggest that something is wrong with the diaphragm seal or that the valve that allows water to travel to a specific area of your yard is blocked or broken.
Since an undiagnosed leak in your irrigation systems will send your water bill sky high and wastewater, this isn’t a task to DIY. Calling professionals for a sprinkler system repair will save you money in the long run and prevent you from using water inefficiently.
2. A Defective Sprinkler Controller
Without a functioning sprinkler controller, your irrigation system can’t work how it needs to. The controller serves several essential purposes, such as turning the system off and on at the appropriate times. It also controls how much water is allocated to each zone and dictates how evenly and thoroughly the system waters your property. Since the controller is crucial in maintaining your yard’s health, you’ll want to be on the lookout for signs that it is beginning to wear out.
Keep watch for consistency errors during the activation phase, such as your system activating at the wrong time or running for an inappropriate length of time. Another sign of a sprinkler controller nearing the end of its lifecycle includes the inability to operate in automatic mode. When you see symptoms that your controller is deteriorating, you’ll want to call your local professionals to have a new controller installed.
3. Incorrect Sprinkler Head Height
If your sprinkler system’s heads are installed at an incorrect height, your lawn will not receive the appropriate amount of water coverage. Unfortunately, homeowners can easily overlook this problem in the beginning because nothing is visibly wrong with the sprinkler. It isn’t until the consequences of the issue become noticeable in the inconsistency of the health of your lawn that you’ll realize what’s going on.
Too High
When your sprinkler head is too high, parts of your lawn will not receive adequate watering. The sprinkler itself will also be at risk for damage from landscaping equipment. If the sprinkler head is located in an area that receives foot traffic, there is also the chance that someone could trip over an elevated sprinkler. Not only could this potentially cause an injury, but it could also break the head of your sprinkler.
Too Low
When a sprinkler head is too low, the area around the sprinkler head will receive an excessive amount of water. This flooding occurs because the sprinkler head isn’t positioned high enough to allow the water stream to spray above the grass and dirt directly around the head.
Over time this will cause the ground around the sprinkler to erode, leaving an unsightly hole in your yard. Finally, depending on the sprinkler’s proximity to the house, ongoing puddling could pose a problem with your home’s foundation.
4. Inadequate Water Pressure
Poor water pressure may be the culprit if your sprinkler system doesn’t provide the water output required to cover your lawn. The most frequent causes of low water pressure are line blockages, defective hardware, and cracked pipes.
These issues can be quickly remedied with servicing from one of our professionals. However, sometimes low water pressure can be caused by a poorly designed system. When that is the case, improving your system’s water pressure will be a more complex task, and installing a new system may be the wisest move.
The Living Trees and Shrubs Promise
When you contact our team to handle your landscape irrigation needs, we are committed to providing you with high-quality work and top-notch customer service. Whether you need an existing system repaired and maintained or would prefer to have our architects design you a system, we have the personnel and experience to get the job done. In addition, we offer free consultations to familiarize us with your needs and determine the best way to fix your irrigation issues.
5. Missing Irrigation Zones
Pump-fed systems are susceptible to suction leaks within their lining. This leak prevents water from being consistently fed into the correct zone. The result is a patchy lawn, where some areas are thriving and others are dried-out. If your sprinkler system is not pump-fed, there is likely a valve issue, shorted selenoid, or lousy wiring causing your problem.
6. Clogged Sprinkler Heads
If you’ve ever used a shower head that had calcium and hard water deposits blocking the water flow, you’ll instantly recognize a clogged sprinkler head. Instead of shooting out an arch of water in a predictable pattern, a clogged sprinkler will have an odd spray pattern. Water may shoot off in different directions, or if the blockage is severe, it may just leak down the sides of the sprinkler.
It’s common for sprinklers to become clogged with dirt, small pieces of leaves, and other yard debris. To avoid having your watering schedule interrupted by a clog, periodically check your sprinkler heads to ensure waste isn’t accumulating.
Sprinkler System Repair and Installation in Fulshear, Houston, and Katy, TX
The best way to ensure your property is appropriately irrigated is to install a quality sprinkler system from the start. Our in-ground sprinkler systems provide customers in Fulshear, Houston, and Katy, TX, with user-friendly irrigation solutions to suit their property’s needs. After you’ve installed one of our underground, time-monitored sprinkler systems, you’ll never go back to dragging a hose across your yard.
From designing the ideal irrigation system for your property to performing maintenance and emergency repairs, our team is prepared to meet your needs. We have served our community with pride for over 32 years and look forward to helping you transform your property. Reach out to Living Trees and Shrubs today; it’s time to build the yard of your dreams.
