Avoiding Common Tree Mistakes

3 Major Signs Of Sprinkler System Issues

3 September 2018 by Chiara Brun

Have you recently purchased a home that has a sprinkler system installed? Did you know that a sprinkler system needs regular care and maintenance in order to continue working? Everything eventually wears out, including sprinkler systems. But because most of a sprinkler system exists underground, it's not always easy to tell when things go awry. One of the biggest reasons why sprinklers get installed in the first place is because the owners don't have the time to or the ability to do the watering manually, and if you're not home when the sprinklers are on, then you won't be able to see that something needs to be fixed. However, there are signs that you should notice anyway, including:

Uneven growth: One of the biggest signs that you are overdue for some sort of sprinkler repair is uneven growth in the lawn. There may be patches of yellow or there may simply be areas where the grass always grows slightly taller — but both are valid reasons for getting the sprinklers checked out as soon as possible. Yellow patches may be the result of sprinklers that are clogged or that don't pop up, leading to under-watering, while extra growth can be caused by sprinklers that stick and apply too much water to a certain area. 

Staining: It's not uncommon for walls that are next to sprinkler heads to experience some staining as gusts of wind carry water droplets in the wall's direction. However, large stains may be a sign that the sprinklers are misaligned and need to be fixed. In contrast, sidewalk staining is almost always a sign that sprinkler repair is needed. If the sidewalk in front of your home is showing signs of water staining, you're likely wasting water unnecessarily on the concrete. Having the system repaired can help conserve water and save you money in the long run.

Increasing water bills: If your water bill keeps getting bigger in spite of your efforts to conserve water, you may be in need of a sprinkler repair technician. Although much of a sprinkler system is underground and will resist aging because of this fact, the system can settle unevenly over time. This has the unfortunate result of creating cracks in the network of pipes, something that will cause your water bill to start to rise. The larger the cracks, the more water can escape through them when the system is turned on. This is similar in effect to the difference between the water usage of a kitchen faucet that's left to trickle for five minutes and the same kitchen faucet that's turned on full-blast for five minutes. If you're getting high water bills that you can't figure out, it's time to have your sprinkler system checked out.

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