4 Common Sprinkler Problems in Liberty Hill & How to Fix Them

A healthy, green lawn is a source of pride for any Liberty Hill homeowner. Your automatic sprinkler system is the key to maintaining that curb appeal, especially during our hot Texas summers. But what happens when it stops working correctly? At Mr. Sprinkler Repair in Liberty Hill, we know an unnoticed issue can quickly lead to brown patches, wasted water, and expensive utility bills.

At Mr. Sprinkler Repair, we see the same common problems pop up across neighborhoods from Santa Rita Ranch to Sundance Estates. This guide will help you identify four of the most frequent sprinkler issues, understand what causes them, and know when you can fix it yourself versus when it’s time to call a professional.

1. Invasive Plant Roots in Sprinkler Pipes

In our area, certain trees and shrubs have aggressive root systems that seek out water sources. Unfortunately, your sprinkler lines are an easy target. Roots can wrap around, crush, and even grow directly into the pipes, causing significant damage.

Symptoms to Watch For

• Wet Spots or Puddles: You may notice soggy areas in your yard that never seem to dry out.
• Low Water Pressure: A specific sprinkler head or an entire zone may have a weak spray or just bubble up.
• Visible Cracks in Pipes: Sometimes, you might see roots tangled around a pipe that has surfaced.

Risks of Ignoring It

Leaving root damage unchecked leads to major water waste, which can increase your water bill substantially. It can also cause soil erosion and kill the grass and plants around the leak. Over time, the entire sprinkler zone could fail.

DIY Check & When to Call a Pro

You can gently dig around a sprinkler head that has low pressure to see if roots are the obvious culprit. However, finding the exact point of damage along an underground pipe is challenging.

Call a professional if: You suspect a leak but can’t find it, or if you see roots have clearly crushed or entered a pipe. We have specialized tools to locate underground leaks and can replace the damaged pipe section without tearing up your entire yard.

Prevention Tip: When planting new trees or shrubs, choose species with less aggressive root systems. Installing root barriers underground near your sprinkler lines can also direct roots away from the pipes.

2. System Incompatibility and Mismatched Parts

A sprinkler system is a collection of parts that must work together seamlessly. Problems arise when a previous repair or installation used incompatible components. Mixing different brands of sprinkler heads, nozzles, or valves can lead to poor performance and premature failure.

Symptoms to Watch For

• Uneven Watering: You might see dry spots right next to overly saturated ones.
• Misting or Fogging: Sprinkler heads may create a fine mist instead of droplets, which evaporates before it hits the ground.
• Constant Leaks or Drips: A valve that doesn’t fully close or a head that constantly dribbles after the system shuts off is a common sign.

Risks of Ignoring It

Incompatible parts cause inefficient watering, stressing your lawn and wasting water. Mismatched valves can stick open, running up your water bill, while incorrect nozzles can lead to runoff and erosion.

DIY Check & When to Call a Pro

Look at your sprinkler heads. Are they all the same brand and model? Check the nozzle types. If you see a mix of different manufacturers in the same zone, that’s a red flag.

Call a professional if: Your system has chronic performance issues like low pressure or uneven coverage. A trained technician can assess your system, identify incompatible parts, and recommend the correct components to ensure every part works in harmony.

Prevention Tip: When replacing a part, always try to match the brand and specifications of the original. If you can’t find an exact match, consult a professional to find a compatible alternative.

3. Controller Forgetting Its Schedule

Your sprinkler controller is the brain of the system, telling it when and how long to water. It’s frustrating when you find it has lost its memory, reverting to a factory default or showing a blank screen. This often happens after a power outage or a nearby lightning strike.

Symptoms to Watch For

• System Not Running: The programmed schedule doesn’t start as expected.
• Incorrect Watering Times: The controller runs at the wrong time of day or for the wrong duration.
• Blank or Flashing Display: The controller screen is dead or shows an error message.

Risks of Ignoring It

If your controller isn’t working, your lawn isn’t getting watered. During a Liberty Hill summer, just a few missed days can turn a green lawn into a brown, stressed-out patch. If it defaults to an incorrect, excessive schedule, you could be facing a massive water bill.

DIY Check & When to Call a Pro

First, check the circuit breaker to make sure the controller has power. Try reprogramming a simple schedule to see if it holds. Some controllers have a backup battery—check to see if it needs replacing.

Call a professional if: The controller won’t accept or hold a new program, the screen remains blank after checking the power, or it behaves erratically. This often points to a faulty transformer or internal failure.

Prevention Tip: Install a surge protector specifically designed for irrigation controllers. For controllers without a built-in battery backup, consider upgrading to a modern model that saves its program even when the power goes out.

4. Overgrown Grass Blocking Sprinkler Spray

This is one of the simplest yet most common issues we see. When grass, weeds, or groundcover grows too tall around sprinkler heads, it blocks the water spray from reaching its intended area. This creates a “shadow” effect, leaving distinct dry, brown patches.

Symptoms to Watch For

• Donut-Shaped Brown Spots: You’ll see a green ring of grass right around the sprinkler head, with a brown, dry area just beyond it.
• Water Spraying Sideways: The water jet hits the overgrown grass and is deflected, often onto sidewalks or driveways.
• Pop-Up Heads Don’t Fully Extend: Tall grass can prevent the sprinkler riser from popping up all the way.

Risks of Ignoring It

Blocked sprinklers cause severe underwatering in targeted zones, leading to a patchy, unhealthy-looking lawn. It also wastes water by spraying it onto hardscapes or areas that don’t need it.

DIY Check & When to Call a Pro

This one is an easy DIY fix! Simply walk your yard and trim the grass and weeds around each sprinkler head with a string trimmer or edger. You should create a clear space of about 6 inches around each head.

Call a professional if: After clearing the grass, you find the sprinkler head is still not spraying correctly or is broken. The overgrown grass may have been hiding a separate issue, like a clogged nozzle or a damaged head.

Prevention Tip: Make trimming around sprinkler heads part of your regular lawn maintenance routine. Mowing your lawn to the correct height and using an edger around heads every few weeks will keep them clear.

Quick Sprinkler System Checklist

• Walk the yard: Look for puddles, dry spots, or overgrown heads.
• Check the controller: Is the time correct and the program active?
• Trim around heads: Clear a 6-inch space around every sprinkler.
• Watch a cycle: Run each zone manually and check for even spray and full pressure.

Your Local Liberty Hill Sprinkler Experts

Keeping up with Liberty Hill’s seasonal watering rules and your own lawn’s needs can be a challenge. If you’ve run through these checks and still have a problem, don’t let a small issue turn into a costly repair.

Mr. Sprinkler Repair is here to help. We offer same-week service throughout the Liberty Hill area. Contact us today for a fast, reliable diagnosis and get your sprinkler system running perfectly again.