Helpful Information
Property owners in Leander, TX, and around Austin depend on their irrigation systems to keep their lawns green and healthy. Over time, even the best systems run into problems that can waste water and cause landscaping and property damage.
American Irrigation Repair discusses below the five leading sprinkler issues that affect irrigation systems in Austin, TX, and how to deal with them.
1. Clogged Nozzles
Dirt, sand, and debris often accumulate in sprinkler nozzles, obstructing water flow and causing uneven watering — leading to dry patches on your lawn and wasted water.
The easiest way to clean the nozzles is with either a small screwdriver or a small metal pick. Basically, you want to knock out any debris in the nozzles to get the full pattern back.
You may need to flush the nozzle to remove debris. To do that, turn off the sprinkler system and unscrew the nozzle from the sprinkler head. Rinse the nozzle under running water and use a small brush or pick to remove debris. If this doesn’t get the heads to work or improve performance, you can call in an irrigation expert to inspect the system for other underlying problems.
2. Leaking Pipes
Because they directly affect water pressure, leaks lead to low water pressure, inadequate watering, and high water bills. Of course, leaks also cause localized flooding in your yard. Leaks can develop from ordinary wear and tear, damage from tree roots, or from freezing and bursting in winter. Sprinkler heads do have a life and after many up and down cycles seals and plastic can wear and develop marring that will cause leaks.
An irrigation expert will identify the leak using appropriate technology and tools. After pinpointing the leak, a technician will expose the damaged area with targeted excavation, and then patch the leak or replace piping, depending on the extent of the damage.
3. Sprinkler Head Damage
Lawnmowers, utility vehicles, foot traffic, pets, or extreme weather can all break or damage sprinkler heads. A broken or misaligned sprinkler head-in leads to uneven irrigation, water waste, and landscaping damage. With Austin, TX water rates being so high, and water restrictions being severe it’s best to fix leaks right away.
An irrigation technician carefully removes the damaged sprinkler head from the riser and then replaces it with a new head that matches your system’s specifications. After repairs, the technician tests the entire system for proper function and adequate water pressure.
4. Valve Malfunction
Faulty valves typically cause various zones in your irrigation system to stop working properly, leak, or have low pressure leading to uneven watering. Valves can fail because of damage from dirt, gravel, age, or debris in addition to ordinary wear and tear. Malfunctioning solenoids can also cause valves to stick open, or to fail to close.
A valve failing to close can become an emergency in short order if the homeowner is out of town or unavailable to turn off the water. Control valves are one of those components that you count on to work all day every day especially when the brutal Austin heat waves hit.
American Irrigation Repair in Leander, TX, and surrounding areas irrigation can inspect all the system’s valves for issues with functionality or performance. Rebuilding, replacing, reconnecting, or adjusting the damaged valves will often resolve the trouble. In some cases, electrical repairs, wire locating, or diagnostics are also necessary.
5. Water Pressure Problems
The low water pressure causes inadequate sprinkler coverage, while high water pressure causes misting, which also wastes water, leads to high water bills and fails to provide proper irrigation coverage.
Technicians address pressure issues by adjusting irrigation regulators, changing nozzle flow rates, adjusting control valves, or installing pressure regulators. If these adjustments don’t solve the problem, the technician will look for blockages or leaks in the irrigation lines.
Call American Irrigation Repair To Handle Sprinkler Issues
American Irrigation Repair handles repair services for all irrigation systems in use in Leander and around Austin. Don’t let sprinkler issues grow into serious problems — count on our expert team to provide cost-effective and efficient repairs.
Call American Irrigation Repair at (512) 943-6080 to schedule service and bring your sprinkler system in Austin, TX back to top form.
