If you have a beautiful lush garden, most probably you’ve installed an irrigation system. The latest automatic irrigation systems have replaced the traditional hose and sprinkler watering methods. With a properly functioning irrigation system, you don’t need to hand-water your garden or drag a hose and sprinkler attachment around the yard. The automatic irrigation system uniformly waters the garden, at a specific time interval.
Watering is essential to maintain a healthy and flourishing garden. But if your irrigation system gets damaged, it can cause various problems like dry patches, plant disease, and water wasting. A leaking or failing irrigation system not only impacts the plants’ health and appearance but also leads to soaring water bills. In the worst case, if the leak occurs near the building’s foundation, it can also cause structural damage. So, it’s imperative to find and fix leaks as soon as possible. But how can you determine that your irrigation system is damaged?
To identify the signs of damaged underground lawn and landscape irrigation systems, you need to first get a basic idea about this system. The underground watering system is not as complex as you might think. The in-ground sprinkler system consists of a water pipe, valve box, controllers, and electric valves. The valves and water lines run throughout your lawn and landscape. If any part gets damaged, you’re likely to notice some visible signs. By identifying the warning signs, you can save repair costs and prevent potential hassles.
Check out some common warning signs that indicate your irrigation system is damaged and needs repair.
Erratic Sprinkler
Sometimes, water sprinklers start spraying off-target. Possibly, this happens due to valve or pressure problems. However, usually, the problem is simply cracked or clogged sprinkler heads. So, when you notice erratic sprinkling, check your sprinkler heads. Cracked or broken heads need replacement while clogged ones need cleaning. If the sprinkler heads are fine, then you may need to adjust the pressure setting.
Flooded or Parched Patches
Sprinkler systems uniformly water the grass or turf. But when you notice that an area in your garden is flooded or dry, it indicates a problem. So, take a look at your entire lawn to spot any dry or soaked area. Your garden needs balanced watering to flourish. Whether you find soaked grass or patches of yellow grass, you need to restore the efficient water distribution. Identify leaks or call a landscaping pro to figure out the problem and fix it.
Dripping Control Valves
Another common symptom of damage is constantly leaking or dripping control valves. To deliver the right amount of water to each yard zone, the system relies on operating valves. Signs like a drip, leak, or damp areas around pressure regulators and filters mean something’s wrong. This problem may arise due to broken or loose parts in another area of your irrigation system. It is also possible that dirt, small particles or grass clippings have accumulated in the equipment. Whatever the cause may be, make sure to address this issue before it causes expensive damage in the future.
Changes in Water Pressure
When the water pressure becomes too low or too high, it can cause watering issues. If the water pressure is too high, it can prematurely wear out your system’s equipment. And when the pressure is too low, your grass and plants will fail to receive the required water. So, take a look at the control valves, regulators, as well as irrigation pipes.