4 Common Sprinkler Issues Facing Arlington Homeowners

A healthy, green lawn is a point of pride for many Arlington homeowners. Your sprinkler system is the unsung hero behind that lush landscape, working hard through our hot Texas summers. But like any complex system, it can develop problems. At Mr. Sprinkler Repair in Arlington, we believe understanding the common culprits can help you spot trouble early and protect your investment.

Here in North Texas, our sprinkler systems face unique challenges. We experience freeze-thaw cycles in the winter, our clay soil expands and contracts, and summer heat puts a heavy demand on every component. At Mr. Sprinkler Repair, we’ve seen it all. This guide breaks down four of the most frequent sprinkler issues we encounter and explains how you can identify them before they cause major damage to your yard and your water bill.

1. The Aftermath of an Improper Winter Shutdown

Winterizing your sprinkler system is one of the most critical maintenance tasks for any Arlington homeowner. Failing to properly shut down and drain your system before the first hard freeze can lead to catastrophic damage. Our winters might seem mild, but it only takes one night of freezing temperatures to turn lingering water into expanding ice.

What Goes Wrong?

When water freezes, it expands by about 9% with incredible force. This expansion can crack PVC pipes underground, split valve bodies, and destroy sprinkler heads from the inside out. This damage often goes unnoticed until you start your system again in the spring, resulting in underground leaks that waste huge amounts of water and create soggy, flooded areas in your lawn.

Symptoms to Watch For:

Water gushing from a sprinkler head that won’t pop up.
Geysers of water shooting up between sprinkler heads.
A valve box that is constantly full of water.
Significant drops in water pressure across your entire system.
Unusually high water bills after you start watering in the spring.

How to Prevent It:

The only sure way to prevent freeze damage is with professional sprinkler system winterization in Arlington. This service involves shutting off the water supply and using a high-volume air compressor to blow every drop of water out of the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. It’s a small investment that prevents costly repairs down the road.

2. When Foundation Shifts Disrupt Your System

The clay soil prevalent throughout Arlington and the wider DFW area is known for its dramatic expansion and contraction. During our wet springs, it swells; during our dry, hot summers, it shrinks and cracks. This constant movement, along with natural home foundation settling, can wreak havoc on the rigid pipes of your irrigation system.

What Goes Wrong?

As the ground shifts, it puts immense stress on buried sprinkler lines and fittings. This can cause pipes to bend and eventually break, or it can force fittings and connections to pop loose. A small leak can quickly saturate the soil, leading to foundation issues for your home, or it can erode the ground around the pipe, creating a larger void and a more significant break.

Symptoms to Watch For:

Spongy or perpetually wet patches of grass, even when the system hasn’t run.
Areas of your lawn that are greener and grow faster than others.
A loss of pressure in one specific zone, while others work fine.
Sprinkler heads that are tilted, sunken, or pushed up too high.
Visible cracks or breaks in pipes you might unearth during yard work.

How to Prevent It:

While you can’t stop the ground from shifting, regular system inspections can catch leaks early. When performing irrigation leak repair in Arlington, professionals often use flexible pipe connections in vulnerable areas to help the system better absorb minor ground movement. If you suspect a leak, it’s crucial to have it professionally located and repaired to prevent water waste and potential property damage.

3. Costly System Programming Errors

Modern sprinkler controllers are powerful tools, but their complexity can sometimes lead to programming mistakes. An incorrect schedule doesn’t just affect your lawn’s health; it can also violate Arlington’s watering restrictions and lead to fines. Getting the programming right is key to an efficient, healthy, and compliant watering strategy.

What Goes Wrong?

Common errors include setting zones to run for too long or too short a time, watering at the wrong time of day (leading to evaporation), or having multiple start times accidentally active. These mistakes result in overwatering, which fosters fungal growth and shallow root systems, or underwatering, which creates dry, brown spots.

Symptoms to Watch For:

Water running down the sidewalk and into the street.
Mushrooms popping up in your lawn.
Dry, stressed-looking areas of grass despite regular watering.
Your system running at odd hours or more frequently than you intended.
A sudden spike in your water bill without visible leaks.

How to Prevent It:

Familiarize yourself with your controller’s manual. A great starting point is the “cycle and soak” method, which waters for short periods with a rest in between, allowing our dense clay soil to absorb the moisture. Better yet, get professional sprinkler programming help. A technician can set an optimal schedule based on your specific landscape, soil type, and sun exposure, ensuring compliance with local guidelines and maximizing water efficiency.

4. The Inevitable Toll of Age and Deterioration

Even the best-installed sprinkler systems won’t last forever. Over time, every component is exposed to the elements, water pressure, and general wear. Parts made of plastic and rubber are especially vulnerable to North Texas’s intense UV radiation and heat, becoming brittle and prone to failure.

What Goes Wrong?

Seals and gaskets inside valves wear out, causing them to leak or fail to close completely. Sprinkler head nozzles get clogged with debris or their internal gears wear down, leading to poor spray patterns. Underground pipes can become brittle and develop stress fractures over many years. Essentially, the system’s efficiency slowly degrades, leading to more frequent and costly repairs.

Symptoms to Watch For:

Sprinkler heads that don’t pop up or retract fully.
Inconsistent spray patterns that miss target areas.
A constant trickle of water from one or more heads long after the zone has shut off.
An increase in the frequency of needed repairs.
Noticeably lower performance compared to previous years.

How to Prevent It:

An annual sprinkler system tune-up is the best defense against age-related decline. During a tune-up, a professional will inspect every component, clean nozzles, adjust head alignment, check water pressure, and test each zone. This proactive approach catches wearing parts before they fail, saving you from emergency calls and keeping your system running at peak efficiency for longer.

Quick Lawn & Sprinkler Self-Checklist

Curious about your system’s health? Walk your property and look for these tell-tale signs:

Wet Spots: Are there spongy areas in the lawn or on the pavement hours after watering?
Dry Spots: Do you see stressed, brown patches of grass?
Tilted Heads: Are any sprinkler heads leaning or sitting too low/high?
Misty Sprays: Do your spray heads create a fine mist instead of droplets? (Indicates high pressure).
Runoff: Does water flow into the street during a watering cycle?
Leaky Valves: Do you see water pooling around the valve boxes in your yard?

If you notice any of these issues, it’s a good sign that your system needs a professional look.

Keep Your Arlington Lawn Thriving

Your sprinkler system is a vital asset for maintaining your property’s beauty and value. By understanding these common issues, you can take proactive steps to keep it in top shape.

Whether you need urgent Arlington sprinkler repair, want to schedule your annual winterization, or simply need help programming your controller for maximum efficiency, Mr. Sprinkler Repair is here to help. Our experienced technicians can quickly diagnose and solve any irrigation problem, ensuring your lawn gets the precise amount of water it needs without waste.

Contact Mr. Sprinkler Repair in Arlington today to schedule a professional system inspection or repair service and enjoy a healthy, beautiful lawn all season long.