4 Common Sprinkler Issues in Roanoke

A healthy, green lawn is a point of pride for any Roanoke homeowner. Your irrigation system is the unsung hero that makes it happen, working behind the scenes to keep your landscape thriving through our hot Virginia summers. But when it fails, that lush green can quickly turn to brown, and small issues can become costly problems. That’s where Mr. Sprinkler Repair steps in, ensuring your lawn stays vibrant.

As Mr. Sprinkler Repair in Roanoke, we’re your trusted sprinkler repair experts, and we’ve seen it all. From the shifting clay soil in South Roanoke to the older well systems near the Blue Ridge Parkway, we understand the unique challenges our local environment presents. This guide covers four common sprinkler problems we see across the valley, helping you diagnose the issue and know when it’s time to call for professional help.

Is Your Sprinkler Controller Forgetting Its Schedule?

A common service call we receive is for a sprinkler system that has stopped running on its programmed schedule. More often than not, the culprit is a minor issue with the controller, also known as the timer. When your controller loses its memory, your watering schedule becomes unreliable, leading to dry patches or missed watering days.

Symptoms of Controller Memory Loss

• The display on your controller is blank or flashing.
• The clock constantly resets to a default time, like 12:00 AM.
• Your watering programs (start times, zone durations) have disappeared.
• The system runs at random times or not at all, especially after a power outage.

Common Causes and Homeowner Checks

The primary cause of memory loss is a failed internal backup battery. Most controllers have a small coin-cell or 9-volt battery designed to save your settings during a power interruption. Roanoke’s frequent summer thunderstorms can cause brief outages that drain this battery over time.

What you can check: Open your sprinkler controller panel. Look for a small, round CR2032 battery (like a watch battery) or a standard 9-volt battery. If it’s easy to access, you can try replacing it. After replacing it, you will need to reprogram your watering schedule. If the problem persists, it could signal a more serious electrical issue.

When to Call Mr. Sprinkler Repair

If replacing the battery doesn’t solve the problem or if your controller won’t hold a program at all, it’s time for a professional. The controller’s internal components may have failed due to age or a power surge.

Our Solution: Our technicians can quickly diagnose the root cause. We will test the controller’s transformer and electrical connections. We can install a fresh backup battery, add a surge protector to shield your controller from future power fluctuations, and expertly reprogram your system for Roanoke’s specific seasonal needs.

The Hidden Damage of Shifting Foundations

Roanoke is known for its clay-rich soil. This soil expands when it’s wet and contracts significantly when it dries out. This constant movement, along with natural foundation settling, can put immense stress on the underground PVC pipes of your sprinkler system. A small shift can crack a lateral line, leading to a hidden leak that wastes water and can even damage your home’s foundation.

Symptoms of a Leak from Shifting Pipes

• Soggy, marshy spots in your lawn that never seem to dry.
• Areas of unusually lush, green grass in one specific spot.
• A sudden drop in water pressure across one or more sprinkler zones.
• Sprinkler heads that are tilted, sunken, or spraying in the wrong direction.
• Visible cracks or soil erosion near your foundation or walkways.

Common Causes and Homeowner Checks

The main cause is the natural expansion and contraction of our local soil. This is especially true during the transition from a wet spring to a dry summer. An improperly winterized system can also leave water in the pipes, which freezes, expands, and weakens the PVC, making it more susceptible to cracking from ground movement.

What you can check: Walk your property and look for the symptoms listed above. Pay close attention to the areas around sprinkler heads and along the edges of your driveway and foundation. If you suspect a leak, you can turn on one sprinkler zone at a time and watch for bubbling water or pooling around the heads.

When to Call Mr. Sprinkler Repair

Underground pipe repair is not a simple DIY project. It requires locating the precise point of the break, excavating the area without damaging other lines, and properly cutting and sealing a new section of pipe.

Our Solution: We use professional-grade equipment to locate hidden leaks quickly, minimizing disruption to your lawn. Our team performs precise irrigation repair in Roanoke, replacing the broken pipe section and ensuring the new connection is secure. We then adjust the surrounding sprinkler heads and check the zone pressure to guarantee your system is operating efficiently once again.

Well Water Woes: Diagnosing a Failed Pump System

Many homes in the Roanoke area, especially in neighborhoods with larger lots or outside city limits, rely on a well or a booster pump to supply water to their irrigation system. When the pump fails, your entire system goes down with it, leaving your landscape without a drop of water.

Symptoms of a Failing Sprinkler Pump

• The sprinkler system won’t turn on at all, even though the controller is running.
• You hear the pump making a humming or grinding noise, but no water comes out.
• The pump turns on and off rapidly (a condition called “short cycling”).
• The circuit breaker connected to the pump trips frequently.
• Water pressure is extremely low or nonexistent across all zones.

Common Causes and Homeowner Checks

Pump failures can stem from several issues. Electrical problems, like a tripped breaker or a faulty pressure switch, are common. Mechanical failures can include a loss of prime (air in the system), a clogged impeller, or a broken foot valve in the well. Roanoke’s well water can also contain sediment that wears down pump components over time.

What you can check: First, check the breaker box to see if the pump’s breaker has tripped. If it has, reset it once. If it trips again, do not reset it and call a professional. You can also visually inspect the pump for obvious leaks or loose wires (without touching them).

When to Call Mr. Sprinkler Repair

Sprinkler pump repair involves working with high-voltage electricity and pressurized water systems. It is dangerous for an untrained person to attempt.

Our Solution: Our technicians are trained in sprinkler pump repair. We can safely diagnose electrical issues, re-prime the pump, clear clogs, and adjust the pressure switch. If the pump motor has failed, we can recommend and install a high-quality replacement suited for your system’s needs.

Case Study: A Pump Problem in Hollins

A homeowner in the Hollins area called us because his system, fed by a booster pump, had no pressure. He could hear the pump humming, but no water was reaching his sprinklers. Our technician arrived the same day and found that the pump had lost its prime due to a small, slow leak at an intake fitting. We repaired the fitting, properly re-primed the pump, and had his system watering his lawn again in under an hour.

Is Your Sprinkler Timer Battery Dead?

Sometimes the simplest issue can bring your whole system to a halt. A dead backup battery in your sprinkler timer is a classic example. While it seems minor, it’s the number one reason controllers lose their settings and fail to water your lawn correctly.

Symptoms of a Dead Timer Battery

• The controller’s display is completely blank.
• The time and date on the display are wrong.
• You reprogrammed your schedule, but it was erased after a brief power flicker.

Common Causes and Homeowner Checks

The small battery inside your controller is only meant to last for a few years. Its job is to keep the clock and your programmed schedules saved in memory when the main power goes out. Once it dies, any power interruption—even for a second—will wipe the controller’s memory clean.

What you can check: As mentioned earlier, you can open the controller and look for the backup battery. They are usually easy to access and replace. Be sure to buy the exact same type of battery as a replacement.

When to Call Mr. Sprinkler Repair

If you’ve replaced the battery and the controller still doesn’t work or won’t hold a program, the problem lies deeper within the unit’s circuitry. The unit itself may need to be replaced.

Our Solution: We stock a variety of common sprinkler timer batteries on our trucks. A technician can stop by, replace the battery, and professionally reprogram your system with a water-wise schedule tailored for the Roanoke climate. If the controller itself has failed, we can provide options for a modern, more efficient replacement.

Ready for Reliable Sprinkler Repair in Roanoke?

Don’t let a broken sprinkler system ruin your lawn or run up your water bill. Whether you’re dealing with a complex pump issue or a simple controller glitch, our team has the local expertise to get the job done right. We offer same-day service windows and provide free estimates with any completed repair.

Call Mr. Sprinkler Repair today at 682-688-5904 to schedule your service and get your irrigation system back in peak condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why did my sprinkler system suddenly lose pressure in one area?
   This is often a sign of a cracked lateral line or a broken sprinkler head in that specific zone. The leak allows water to escape before it reaches all the heads, causing a noticeable pressure drop.
   
   
2. How often should I replace my sprinkler timer’s backup battery?
   We recommend replacing the backup battery in your sprinkler controller every 2 to 3 years as a preventative measure. This helps ensure your settings are always saved, especially during Roanoke’s storm season.
   
   
3. Can a sprinkler leak really damage my home’s foundation?
   Yes. A persistent underground leak near your house can over-saturate the clay soil. This causes the soil to expand, putting upward or lateral pressure on your foundation walls and slab, which can lead to cracks and structural damage over time.
   
   
4. My sprinklers are on a well. Why did they stop working after a dry spell?
   During a drought, the water level in your well can drop below the pump’s intake, causing it to draw in air and lose its prime. The pump will run, but it can’t pull water. This requires a professional to safely re-prime the system once water levels recover.
   
   
5. Is it better to repair my old controller or buy a new one?
   If your controller is over 10 years old and is experiencing memory loss or other electrical issues, replacement is often the more cost-effective option. Modern controllers are more user-friendly, reliable, and offer “smart” features that can save you water and money.