Irrigation System Maintenance: Key Steps for a Healthy Lawn

Irrigation systems are a significant investment for homeowners who want healthy, green lawns. However, like any system, your irrigation setup needs routine maintenance to function efficiently. Without proper care, it can result in higher water bills, improper programming, or inadequate/over-watering. In this guide, we’ll highlight the key components to inspect in your irrigation system, why maintenance is vital, and why hiring a professional is the best choice for the job.

Why Professional Irrigation Maintenance is Crucial

Proper maintenance is essential to ensure your irrigation system runs at peak efficiency, which saves you water and money, and your lawn will thank you for it. Here’s why you should hire a professional:

• Expert Diagnosis: Professionals can quickly identify hidden issues, such as damaged pipes or inefficient watering zones, that might be missed by the untrained eye.
• Accurate Problem Detection and Repair: Experienced technicians are skilled at diagnosing and fixing issues like malfunctioning sprinkler heads and electrical problems.
• Cost Savings: Keeping your system well-maintained reduces water waste, leading to lower utility bills.
• Time-Saving: Avoid the hassle of DIY fixes and let professionals tackle the technical challenges for you.

Irrigation System Maintenance Checklist:

Install Your Drain Plug or Close Your Hose Bibb:
Ensure that the drain plug is installed or your hose bibb is closed to prevent water from leaking out when you turn on your irrigation shutoff valve (often located in the basement).

Turn on the Water:
Locate and turn on the ball valve that provides water to your system, and ensure nothing is leaking at the backflow preventer before continuing with the inspection.

Run a Test - Inspect Sprinklers

• What to Look For: Misaligned, broken, or clogged sprinklers. Ensure rotary heads are rotating correctly and are properly aligned. Confirm that spray heads are popping up and retracting back into the body when not in use, or they may be at risk of being hit by a lawn mower.
• How to Check: Run your system, observe spray patterns, and look for uneven coverage. If you see pooling or extreme saturation around a head, this could indicate a leak in the piping or a cracked fitting.
• Pro Tip: Using a cup cutter (typically used on golf courses to cut where the flagstick and cup are placed) around spray heads can help create space, preventing grass from growing over and restricting the head from popping up throughout the season.

Check for Leaks or Water Pressure Issues

• What to Look For: Leaks or weak, inconsistent water pressure.
• How to Check: Walk your yard and inspect for pooling water or poor pressure in certain zones.
• Pro Tip: Walk from head to head in the most likely areas where sprinkler lines are located, and listen for a "squish." If you hear squishy, saturated soil while walking between sprinkler heads, there’s a good chance there is a leak in the pipe.

Check the Valve Boxes

• What to Look For: Ensure that valve boxes are clean, and that there are no blockages or leaking valves.
• How to Check: Open valve boxes and inspect the interior for visible damage, debris, leaks, or nicks corrosion on the wiring (most commonly found at the wire nut connections).
• Pro Tip: If you notice any standing water in the valve boxes, there is most likely a leaking valve. To check further, turn off the water to the system at one of the backflow shutoff valves and let it drain overnight. Once the valve box is empty, quickly turn on the water and see which valve is leaking, then take note of it. You may need to replace or rebuild the valve.

Inspect the Irrigation Timer & Controller

• What to Look For: Check the day/time, and ensure the correct run times and days of the week. Make sure your rain sensor is not flashing and is connected to the transmitter if it's wireless. Confirm that your rain sensor is active on your clock's settings. Replace your 12V backup battery if necessary.
• How to Check: Click through each of the settings thoroughly and document your findings. The process will differ depending on the make and model of your clock. Newer smart clocks use apps and link to local weather stations, eliminating the need for a rain sensor and saving you water.
• Pro Tip: Consider upgrading to a smart controller that can automatically adjust watering schedules based on weather conditions, saving you time and water.

Conclusion
Regular irrigation maintenance keeps your lawn healthy and your water bill low. While some checks can be done yourself, a professional company can help ensure your system operates efficiently, saving you time, effort, and money. Whether it’s a tune-up or a full inspection, we’re here to help. Is your irrigation system running at its best? Contact a professional irrigation company for an inspection and maintenance!