When you have free time, do you spend it staring out at your sprinkler system, looking for problems?
Hopefully not. There are lots more interesting things you can be doing. Like, well, just about anything else.
Even if you pay pretty close attention, lawn sprinkler problems can be sneaky. Problems can go unnoticed for days, even weeks.
Remember, you typically run your sprinklers early in the morning, when you might not notice any problems.
Meanwhile, your lawn suffers. You waste water. It’s a big bummer.
Here are some lawn sprinkler problems that need attention.
You might notice them — or you might not.
1. A Lawn Sprinkler Zone Isn’t Working
Each of your zones should turn on and off and run properly, to make sure every area of your lawn gets the right amount of water.
But things happen, when you don’t even realize it:
- Lightning may have zapped your system.
- There may be a leak.
- An animal might have chewed through the pipe.
If one sprinkler zone isn’t working, that area of your grass will turn brown and may die.
2. Your Lawn Sprinkler Doesn’t Have Enough Pressure
Maybe you’ve noticed brown spots, or it’s obvious the spray isn’t reaching as far as it should.
If the pressure is too low, water will stream out of the sprinkler instead of forming a spray. If it’s too high, you’ll see mist instead of a nice steady spray.
Any number of issues could be to blame here, from intruding tree roots to a hole in the pipe
3. Controller Issues
Your irrigation system controller is the brains of your entire irrigation system. If it isn’t set correctly, your sprinklers might be watering your landscaping too much or too little.
Think you have a leak, because you’re using more water than you think you should be? Maybe it’s just your controller, set to turn on too many times.
Make sure it’s set for the right season, too. It might be set to water more often than your property needs for this time of year.
4. Sprinkler Heads Are Broken or Out of Whack
OK, so “out of whack” isn’t exactly a technical industry term, but a lot of things can be wrong with a sprinkler head, and “out of whack” nicely covers them.
Your sprinkler heads are sturdy, but not indestructible. They might get knocked out of alignment by mowers or heavy foot traffic. Or broken by a wayward snowplow.
When that happens, they might not be hitting all areas of your lawn. Or they might be spraying areas they shouldn’t, like your sidewalks, driveway, or the side of your house.
Sprinkler heads can get blocked, too, by tall grass or plants. Sometimes they settle too low into the ground, so they spray into the grass and not up over it.
And the nozzles can get clogged with debris. Residue in the line can flow to the heads once the water is turned on, clogging the head without you even realizing it.
If you’re sensing a lot can go wrong with your sprinkler heads, you’re right. They’re the real workhorses of your sprinkler system.
5. Your Sprinklers Are On in the Rain
This drives you crazy, right? Such an obvious waste of water.
Could be your controller is set wrong, or the battery in your rain sensor died.
6. Soggy Spot? Could Be Your Lawn Sprinkler Leaking
Maybe you notice one spot in your lawn is too soggy. There could be a sprinkler system leak, releasing way more water than that spot needs.
So, a Lot’s Going On Out There
Most homeowners don’t look too closely at their sprinkler systems, so they don’t see the little issues, the warning signs that turn into big lawn sprinkler problems later.
So, by the time their system needs repair, it’s an emergency. The grass is getting brown. Those expensive plants are dying.
Obviously, you can’t keep a constant eye on your yard for lawn sprinkler problems. You have to work, cook meals, walk the dog. And tons of new shows are on Netflix.
But somebody needs to keep an eye on things out there.
Ignore lawn sprinkler system maintenance and you could face repairs far more expensive than the cost to pay for maintenance.
Lawn Sprinkler Problems? Trust RainMaster
Thinking about all the things that might be going wrong with your sprinkler system is kind of stressful.
Give yourself a break.
Invest in a sprinkler system maintenance plan and you’ll have peace of mind that a skilled irrigation specialist will discover issues like broken sprinkler heads, soggy spots, or controller problems and fix them.
In addition to catching lawn sprinkler problems early and keeping things running smoothly, professional irrigation specialists offer great advice for saving water and money.
They’ll let you know if you’re watering too much, or too little, and keep you posted on updates that can help your system run more efficiently.
Choose from our three irrigation maintenance programs to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Ready to make your lawn life easier? Request a quote today! We’ll review your options together so you can make a confident decision. Then, you can finally enjoy your well-watered lawn and stop worrying about it.
