A sprinkler system is mechanical and mechanical items needs regular preventive maintenance and attention to keep them in good working condition. If your system isn’t working properly, here are some common items that can be identified and fixed. Calling a quality irrigation and sprinkler company to investigate the issue can help you in the long run.
Damaged Pipes
Check for cracked or broken pipes. A clue to this would be a gradual drop in pressure or pools of water around the lawn where the pipe passes. Since pipes for most domestic sprinkler systems are made from PVC, regular exposure to pressure could start to slowly crack the pipes.
One way this can happen is a car regularly going over the ground under which the pipes are. The compaction and downward push could bend, distort, crack or, worst case, eventually break the pipe. Another is pressure from plant roots especially larger ones such as trees.
Pipes could also crack due to wide variations of ground temperature. Extreme heat causes the soil to expand albeit slightly while the cold causes contraction. Once you identify where the problem is, dig up the area around the pipe, cut it and then replace it with a new piece.
Water Pressure
Low water pressure could be due to many reasons:
- faulty valve at the backflow device,
- broken pipe or
- problem with the sprinkler system pump.
Watch your sprinkler system for any one of these problems to save time and money.
Clogged Sprinkler Heads
With an underground sprinkler system, clogged sprinkler heads are one of the most common problems. Debris in the yard can block a sprinkler head easily. Clogged heads spray interrupted, uneven or nonexistent. They leak too.
Broken Sprinkler Heads
Due to mower blades or edging tools damaging sprinkler heads, they stop working properly. They are designed to pop up when the system turns on and to retract when it stops. Replacing a sprinkler head is fairly easy. Just simply unscrew the head or stem, remove it, and screw in a replacement.
Sprinklers Angles
Sprinkler heads that sit too high above the ground are vulnerable to damage. This is ONE of the most common reason for broken sprinkler heads. You can lower the heads deeper into the ground.
Stuck Valves
If your sprinkler valve is stuck, your sprinklers will continue running after they’re supposed to shut off. Home sprinkler systems typically have two valves—one at each end.
Let our qualified specialist answer all of your questions about installing or repairing a sprinkler system.
At Sunrise Irrigation & Sprinklers, we know sprinkler installation and repair, landscape lighting and all-natural mosquito control and more. Our highly qualified, fully licensed and insured specialists have been beautifying residential and commercial landscapes in Palm Harbor and the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years. As an established, family-owned irrigation management business, we believe that keeping Florida homes and businesses looking their best begins with a healthy lawn. Give us a call at 727-772-3819 or schedule an initial consultation to discuss how we can help your lawn become lusher, greener, and healthier.
