4 Common Sprinkler Issues & Fixes in Champion Forest

A lush, green lawn is the pride of any Champion Forest home, and Mr. Sprinkler Repair is the team that keeps your sprinkler system—the unsung hero—working perfectly. But when it’s not working correctly, your lawn can suffer, and your water bills can rise. Many homeowners face common sprinkler issues that can seem complex, but with the expertise of Mr. Sprinkler Repair in Champion Forest, understanding and resolving them is the first step toward a healthy landscape. We’ll explore four frequent problems and provide tips to help you keep your system in top shape.

This guide will cover:

The dangers of not winterizing your system.
Why moving parts wear out and what to do about it.
How to spot and address low water pressure.
The cause of leaky sprinkler heads and how to fix them.

The Hidden Dangers of Inadequate Winterization

Here in Texas, we may not experience the harsh winters of northern states, but a sudden freeze can wreak havoc on an unprepared sprinkler system. Winterization is the process of removing all water from your pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads before the first freeze. Failing to do this can lead to costly damage.

When water freezes, it expands by about 9%. This expansion exerts immense pressure on your PVC pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. The result can be cracked pipes underground, shattered valve casings, and broken sprinkler heads. These issues often go unnoticed until you turn the system on in the spring, leading to major leaks, water waste, and expensive repairs.

How to Prevent Freeze Damage

Schedule a Professional Blowout: The most effective way to winterize your system is with a compressed air “blowout.” This method uses a large-volume air compressor to force all water out of the lines. It’s a task best left to professionals, as using the wrong equipment or pressure can damage the system.
Insulate Above-Ground Components: Wrap your backflow preventer and any exposed pipes with insulating foam tape or blankets to protect them from sudden temperature drops.
Know Your System: If you have manual drain valves, you can open them to let water out. However, this method is often less thorough than a blowout and may leave your system vulnerable.

Excessive Wear on Moving Parts

Your sprinkler system is a mechanical network with many moving parts, including rotor heads, spray nozzles, and zone valves. Over time, these components can wear out from regular use, exposure to the elements, and debris in the water line. Poor maintenance accelerates this process, leading to system failures.

Signs of worn-out parts include sprinkler heads that don’t pop up, rotors that won’t turn, or zones that fail to activate. Grit, sand, and small pebbles in the water supply can act like sandpaper, grinding down the delicate gears inside rotor heads and damaging valve seals.

Extending the Life of Your System’s Components

Regular Inspections: At the beginning of each season, run each zone and walk through your property. Look for sprinklers that are not performing correctly. Check for visible wear or damage.
Clean Filters and Nozzles: Many sprinkler heads and valves have small filter screens to catch debris. Cleaning these periodically prevents clogs and reduces wear on internal mechanisms.
Professional Tune-Ups: An annual tune-up from a professional can identify parts that are nearing the end of their lifespan. A technician can replace worn seals, gears, and nozzles before they fail completely, saving you from a mid-summer emergency.

The Problem with Insufficient Water Pressure

Is your sprinkler system just not reaching as far as it used to? Are you noticing dry, brown spots in your lawn? You might be dealing with insufficient water pressure. Low pressure prevents your sprinklers from operating as designed, leading to poor coverage and an unhealthy lawn.

Several factors can cause low water pressure. There could be a leak somewhere in the main line, a partially closed backflow or master valve, or a crushed pipe from tree roots or recent construction. Sometimes, the issue is simply that too many sprinklers are running on a single zone.

How to Identify and Address Low Pressure

Check for Obvious Leaks: Look for soggy areas in your yard, patches of unusually green grass, or erosion. These are classic signs of an underground pipe leak that is diverting water and reducing pressure.
Inspect Your Valves: Ensure your system’s master valve and the backflow preventer’s shutoff valves are fully open. Sometimes these can be accidentally turned, restricting water flow.
Run One Zone at a Time: Verify that your controller isn’t programmed to run multiple zones simultaneously, as this can divide the available pressure.
Call a Professional: Diagnosing a pressure problem can be tricky. A professional has the tools to measure pressure accurately, locate hidden leaks, and determine the exact cause of the issue.

Sprinkler Head Leaks When the System Is Off

One of the most wasteful and frustrating sprinkler problems is a head that leaks continuously, even when the system is off. This is often called “low-head drainage.” It happens when the lowest sprinkler head on a zone allows all the water remaining in the pipes to drain out after the zone shuts off. This not only creates a muddy, oversaturated area but also wastes a significant amount of water over time.

This leaking is caused by gravity pulling the water to the lowest point. While it seems like a small drip, it can waste hundreds of gallons of water each month. The root cause is a faulty zone valve that isn’t sealing properly, allowing water to seep into the pipes slowly.

Stopping the Drip

Install Check Valves: The easiest fix for low-head drainage is to install sprinkler heads with built-in check valves. These small, spring-loaded devices prevent water from draining out of the head when the system is off. They can also be installed on existing heads.
Inspect the Zone Valve: The persistent leak might be a symptom of a larger problem: a dirty or failing zone valve. Debris caught in the valve’s diaphragm can prevent it from closing completely. A technician can clean the valve or, if it’s worn out, replace it to stop the leak at its source.

Keep Your System Running with Professional Care

Your sprinkler system is a valuable investment that protects the health and beauty of your landscape. While some minor tasks can be handled on your own, regular maintenance and professional inspections are the best way to prevent costly repairs and ensure efficient operation. Don’t wait for a small drip to become a major flood.

If you’re experiencing any of these common issues in Champion Forest or simply want to schedule a preventative maintenance check-up, we are here to help.

Contact Mr. Sprinkler Repair today for expert service and peace of mind. Our experienced technicians can diagnose and fix any problem, keeping your lawn green and your water bills down.