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Why Do My Sprinklers Have Low Water Pressure?


Published on August 19, 2024
Why Do My Sprinklers Have Low Water Pressure?

If you’ve noticed that your sprinklers have low water pressure, you may have shrugged it off as an anomaly. Many homeowners in Georgetown, Round Rock, Austin, and the surrounding areas are surprised to learn that this is a common experience. They’re even more surprised to learn that the solutions to this frustrating problem are often simple.

Persistently low water pressure in your property’s sprinkler system leads to insufficient coverage, leaving some areas completely dry and others waterlogged. A common cause of low pressure in irrigation is a system leak, which can also lead to substantial property damage if not addressed quickly. You won’t want to wait long to sort out your sprinklers.

Read on tips and tricks from the Georgetown sprinkler repair experts at American Irrigation Repair.

Common Causes of Low Water Pressure in Sprinklers

Several reasons could explain why your property’s sprinklers are struggling with low water pressure. Here are the most common issues our sprinkler repair crew encounters in the field.

Backflow Preventer Valve or Pressure Regulator Issues

Do your sprinklers have low water pressure, yet the pressure inside your home appears normal? There could be an issue with the valves in your system’s backflow preventer device. 

Backflow Valves

The backflow preventer stops water from flowing backward and out of your sprinkler into the water supply. It usually has two pipes: one horizontal and one vertical, each with a valve. These valves must be completely open to allow sufficient water flow into your sprinkler system.

The experts will check if the valves are fully open – the handles should be parallel to the pipes. This simple fix can often restore the proper water flow to your sprinkler system. 

Pressure Regulator

The irrigation system’s pressure regulator controls the water pressure flowing from each of the sprinkler heads to ensure consistency. When this component malfunctions, you will see fluctuating pressure – some sprinklers spray further than others. You might also hear some unusual sounds, like the squealing or sputtering associated with varying pressure levels.

You’ll want to contact a professional to adjust the valves or check the pressure regulator to ensure the sprinkler repair goes off without a hitch.

Main Water Valve or Shut-Off Valve Not Fully Open

Has anyone had a reason to close the main water supply to your property recently? When sprinklers have low water pressure, you may have an issue with partially closed main water valves and shut-off valves. While the resulting restriction in flow may not adversely affect household fixtures, like water-dependent appliances or the shower, it usually impairs sprinkler performance. 

Your sprinkler system requires a consistent water flow to operate, especially when compared to household appliances that only use water every now and then. Experts will troubleshoot a pressure problem by locating the shut-off valve that serves your sprinkler system. It must be fully open.

Leaks or Breaks in the Water Line

Are you noticing your sprinklers have low water pressure? You might want a professional to inspect your entire sprinkler system for problems beyond closed valves. One more serious scenario could be leaking water lines or burst pipes, which cause a substantial drop in water pressure downstream of the fault. 

It doesn’t take heavy equipment to damage a water line, although that is certainly a common cause of sprinkler system damage. Sometimes, something seemingly insignificant, such as installing a garden stake or a trellis, can puncture or rip a sprinkler line. To detect a leak, look around your yard for:

  • Unusual depressions.
  • Wet areas of soil or vegetation.
  • Lush growth that shouldn’t be there.
  • Water bubbling up from the ground when the sprinkler system is operating. 

If some sprinkler heads work properly while others do not, there could likely be a leak in the pipes between the heads. Wherever the problem lies, you’ll want to leave this repair work to experienced professionals to avoid doing more damage.

Obstruction of Water Lines

Sometimes, sprinklers have low water pressure due to an obstruction in the water line rather than an outright leak. For example, tree roots wrap around or pierce underground lines to restrict the normal water flow. Heavy objects depressing the soil over water lines, such as parking vehicles above them, also affect the pressure in the pipes and connections.

Obstructions can restrict water flow, which will significantly reduce the pressure in your sprinkler system. A professional repair service might replace the pipe, remove obstructions, or even reroute the damaged line and flush it to restore proper water flow.  

Clogged Nozzles or Dirty Sprinkler Heads

Clogged or dirty sprinkler heads and nozzles are another common reason for low water pressure. If the issue only affects one or two sprinkler heads, dirt or debris may block them. Of course, this stops the free flow of water, which will certainly produce a noticeable pressure drop in your irrigation system.

A professional like American Irrigation Repair will inspect and clean each of the system’s sprinkler heads and nozzles. If you spot excess grass or weeds around the base of sprinkler heads, you’ll want to clear them – obstacles like this stop sprinkler heads from popping up.

Increased Demand on Municipal Water Supply

Sometimes, sprinklers have low water pressure due to municipal water supply issues. Are your neighbors also experiencing low water pressure? 

If you notice the pressure drops during peak watering times, check the local water supply or contact your water supplier to be sure.

Choose American Irrigation Repair for Assistance With Sprinkler System Water Pressure Issues

If you’d like to avoid water damage and keep your lawn healthy, you need a correctly functioning sprinkler system. Adjusting valves or cleaning sprinkler heads isn’t as complicated as pipe leaks or obstructions, but getting professional assistance for all of it ensures a job done right the first time. American Irrigation Repairs has specialized in diagnosing and fixing sprinkler system issues since 1997, which is why so many Texans now rely on the team to handle all their irrigation projects and repairs.  

Do your sprinklers have low water pressure? Call American Irrigation Repair at (512) 943-6080 for service in Georgetown, Round Rock, Austin, or anywhere around Texas Hill Country.

Devynn Photo, Owner photo
About The Author

Justin Wilson

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Kenneth T.
Kenneth T.
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Great staff and repair was done timely and effectively.
Anoop G.
Anoop G.
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Excellent service. Was quick to schedule the appointment and repair was done in no time.
Connie H.
Connie H.
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Very friendly and professional individuals. Both of these gentlemen were great. Very courteous, listened and responded to my questions in a thorough manner. Great Job!!!
Cheri H.
Cheri H.
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American Irrigation employees are very knowledgeable and courteous.
Bruce L.
Bruce L.
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I have not seen the sprinklers operate yet. However I am confident it will be top notch.
Margo H.
Margo H.
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Quick and found all our problems.
Carolyn F.
Carolyn F.
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Efficient and quick service - thank you.
avi N.
avi N.
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Great service
Bruce P.
Bruce P.
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Top notch service techs !
Nancy W.
Nancy W.
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Workers were always on time. They were always very polite and knowledgeable. We are very happy with the work that they have done for us.
Ary D.
Ary D.
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They do good work with a fair price, on time and honest.
Henry E
Henry E
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Crew knew exactly what my issue was and fixed it quickly. Knowledgeable and efficient.
Alex S.
Alex S.
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Excellent and speedy service. We have used them for our new irrigation system and to repair our old. Sean is an awesome project manager of theirs.
Roberta B.
Roberta B.
1738846724
Very competent and professional--from the office personnel to the people in the field. We always know we are competently cared for.
Linda B.
Linda B.
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The guys came out to inspect our sprinklers. They were very friendly and both worked together to get the job done quickly and checked each line and individual heads. We were very pleased
K P
K P
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Great and friendly service !
Camille H.
Camille H.
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Quality work and Honesty. Appreciate you helping me with the repairs!
Mike B.
Mike B.
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The technicians were very knowledgableand thorough. They explained things very well . I would highly recommend this company.
Brad C.
Brad C.
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Great service, very responsive.
Cheryl H.
Cheryl H.
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Very polite and professional.
David M.
David M.
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Have always had good experience with American Irrigation
Avish H
Avish H
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Both techs were very polite and professional. Explained all the issues and got the job done. Thank you
paul H.
paul H.
1738354073
Great service from Juan and Victor. Very focused, professional, exactly what I’ve come to expect from American Irrigation. Paul Hanley
Duane A.
Duane A.
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Very thorough and professional.
Fred W.
Fred W.
1738285235
The team worked well, and completed our sprinkler issues in a timely manner.
Susan J.
Susan J.
1738259600
Brandon and Elias did an excellent job checking out my irrigation system. They are always efficient and friendly! Highly recommend them! 01/30/2025
Matt S.
Matt S.
1738255021
Brandon and Elias were extremely knowledgeable, prompt, and made sure to double check all work completed. Took time to explain everything with no rush. I have utilized their Prepaid Grow Together club for years. And the service is excellent. They come out to service our irrigation twice a year, typically raise and/or fix heads at no additional cost, assist with the city rebate process, etc. Highly recommend.
Thaigirl
Thaigirl
1738189155
We requested service to move some sprinkler heads and for water pressure. The two guys did a great job identifying the issue and providing a resolution. This is our 2nd time using American Irrigation for our needs.
Paul S.
Paul S.
1738186956
Wow, such great work at an extremely fair price. We moved into this house recently, and the previous owners had a real mess going with their irrigation. AIR split some zones into smaller zones, moved some and added some sprinkler heads around to get total coverage, and switched out some sprinkler heads to ensure great coverage. They worked super fast, were careful with our new sod and were extremely professional.
Eddie V.
Eddie V.
1738113504
Your guys did a great job and fixed my problem.
a T.
a T.
1738011578
American Irrigation significantly modified the sprinkler system that was in place when I purchased my new home two years ago. Since I moved in, I have added several large garden beds and a patio, so my irrigation needs had changed.I found the office staff as well as the installers to be polite and efficient.The installation was completed in a single day without significant damage to my lawn. (Of course, running new pipes required a little bit of trenching but that was done with a minimum of disruption and the removed sod was carefully replaced.) The installers left the worksite clean.I avoid writing a review until after several weeks have passed so that I can be sure that I am satisfied with the product. In this case, I have waited nearly two months. And, I am happy to say, I am still very satisfied.Based on my experience, I heartily recommend American Irrigation.
Frank R.
Frank R.
1737998848
The company has always served us well. Never a single issue in the years we used them at our other or here in the newer one.
Michael B.
Michael B.
1737922151
Very professional
Barb R.
Barb R.
1737858704
Santos and his helpers did a thorough job examining my sprinkler system, making a couple repairs and advising me of small steps I can take to utilize my one day watering most effectively. I'll ask for Santos next time!
Vincent G.
Vincent G.
1737830762
Armando, the technician who came out was fast, kind, knowledgeable and professional! Excellent company!
Jack S.
Jack S.
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Great, prompt service, explained everything thoroughly. Job not just well done, more like FANTASTIC!
P C.
P C.
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6 month follow up check to work done this past summer. Team was great and they identified and fixed a couple of issues
Judy & John M.
Judy & John M.
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Trevor and Alejandro were prompt, efficient, personable. Great team! Upgraded system.
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