4 Common Westlake Sprinkler Repair Issues

Your lawn is the first thing people see. A healthy, green landscape boosts curb appeal and gives you a space to relax. But keeping it that way in Westlake’s climate, with our heavy clay soils and intense summer heat, depends on a reliable sprinkler system. When your irrigation system fails, your lawn can quickly show signs of stress, from brown patches to muddy puddles. This is where a reliable service like Mr. Sprinkler Repair becomes invaluable..

Many homeowners feel frustrated when their sprinklers act up, but you’re not alone. At Mr. Sprinkler Repair in Westlake, we see the same problems pop up across Westlake neighborhoods time and again. This guide will walk you through four of the most common sprinkler issues we fix, helping you understand what’s happening and what you can do about it. We’ll cover everything from faulty sensors to broken pumps, so you can feel more confident tackling your irrigation system.

1. Your Rain Sensor Is Not Working

A rain sensor is a small but mighty device. Its job is simple: detect rainfall and tell your sprinkler system not to run. This saves water, prevents over-saturating your lawn, and helps you comply with local water restrictions. So, when you look out the window during a downpour and see your sprinklers running anyway, you know something is wrong.

A rain sensor not working is a frequent call we get for Westlake sprinkler repair. It’s a problem that wastes significant water and money over time.

Why Do Rain Sensors Fail?

Several things can cause a rain sensor to stop working correctly:

Debris: Leaves, dirt, or even small twigs can get inside the sensor, preventing it from detecting moisture.
Bad Wiring: The low-voltage wire connecting the sensor to your controller can get cut or disconnected. This often happens during yard work or from sun exposure making the wire brittle.
Dead Batteries: Many wireless rain sensors run on batteries that need to be replaced every few years.
Old Age: Like any electronic device, rain sensors wear out. The internal components can degrade, especially under the harsh Texas sun.

What You Can Check Yourself

Before calling for service, there are a couple of quick checks you can perform:

Inspect for Debris: Carefully open the sensor’s cap and clean out any visible debris.
Check the Controller: Look at your irrigation controller. Is there an error message or a light indicating a sensor issue? Ensure the sensor setting is enabled on the controller. Sometimes it gets accidentally switched off.
Test the Bypass Switch: Most controllers have a sensor bypass switch. Try toggling it to see if the system responds. This can help confirm if the issue lies with the sensor itself or the controller.

If these steps don’t solve the problem, it’s time to call a professional. An expert can quickly diagnose a wiring fault, test the sensor’s internal mechanics, or replace the unit if it has failed.

2. Mowing Damage to Heads and Pipes

It’s a familiar, frustrating sound: the crunch of a lawn mower hitting a sprinkler head. Mowing damage is one of the top reasons homeowners need irrigation repair in Westlake. A broken sprinkler head can lead to geysers that flood your yard, low pressure across a zone, or a head that fails to pop up at all.

Sometimes the damage goes deeper. Mower blades can also clip shallow-running pipes, causing underground leaks that are harder to spot but just as damaging.

Signs of Mowing Damage

Visible Damage: You might see a cracked or completely shattered sprinkler head.
Geysers or Flooding: Water shooting straight up or pooling around a head is a clear sign of a break.
Low Pressure: If an entire zone seems weak, it could be due to a broken head or a cracked pipe leaking water before it reaches the sprinklers.
Soggy Patches: Unexplained wet spots in the lawn, especially between sprinkler heads, often indicate a damaged underground pipe.

How to Prevent Mowing Damage

A little prevention goes a long way.

Mark Your Heads: Use small landscape flags to mark the location of sprinkler heads before you mow, at least until you learn their exact positions.
Adjust Head Height: Sprinkler heads should sit flush with the soil level. If they are too high, they are easy targets. A professional can adjust them to the proper height to protect them from mowers and edgers.
Use Swing Joints: Installing flexible swing joints on the risers below the sprinkler heads allows them to move slightly if hit, reducing the chance of a break.

If you have a broken sprinkler head, turning off the water to that zone is the first step. While replacing a head can sometimes be a DIY job, ensuring you have the right model and nozzle for your system’s pressure and coverage needs is crucial. For pipe repairs, it’s best to call for service to ensure a durable, leak-free seal.

3. System Incompatibility and Mixed Parts

An irrigation system is a balanced network. Each component—from the controller to the valves to the sprinkler heads—is designed to work together at specific pressures and flow rates. Problems arise when mismatched parts are introduced, often during a DIY repair or by an inexperienced installer.

Using incompatible parts is like putting diesel in a gasoline engine. It might seem to work for a little while, but it will eventually cause major performance issues and damage.

Common Incompatibility Problems

Mixing Spray Heads and Rotors: Spray heads and rotary nozzles have vastly different precipitation rates. Putting them on the same zone means one part of your lawn will be overwatered while another part remains dry.
Incorrect Nozzles: Using a nozzle that isn’t matched to the sprinkler head or the system’s pressure can result in poor coverage, misting (which evaporates before hitting the ground), or weak streams.
Wrong Valve Diaphragms: When a valve fails, replacing just the diaphragm is a common repair. However, using a diaphragm from a different brand or model will almost always result in a valve that won’t open, close, or seal properly.

If you notice inconsistent coverage, dry spots right next to overly wet spots, or zones that won’t shut off, system incompatibility could be the culprit. A professional irrigation technician can perform an audit of your system, identify mismatched components, and restore the hydraulic balance needed for efficient watering.

4. Failed Pump Systems on Well Water

Many properties in the Westlake area use well water for irrigation. This requires a pump to draw water from the well and pressurize it for the sprinkler system. When the pump fails, your entire irrigation system goes down with it. Sprinkler system pump repair is a specialized skill that differs significantly from standard city water repairs.

If you have a well water irrigation system that suddenly stops working, the pump is the first place to look.

Symptoms of a Failing Pump System

No Water at All: The most obvious sign. The controller runs, you hear the zone valves click open, but no water comes out.
Extremely Low Pressure: The sprinklers pop up but only produce a weak trickle of water.
Pump Runs Continuously: If you can hear the pump running even when the sprinklers are off, it could indicate a leak in the system or a problem with the pressure tank or switch.
Pump Cycles On and Off Rapidly: This “short cycling” often points to a failed or waterlogged pressure tank, which puts immense strain on the pump motor.

Common Pump and Well Issues

Losing Prime: The pump needs to be full of water to create suction. If it loses its prime due to a small leak on the suction side, it cannot pull water from the well. Sometimes, repriming the pump can be a temporary fix.
Clogged Intake: The intake line in the well can become clogged with sediment, restricting water flow.
Pressure Tank Failure: The pressure tank stores pressurized water to prevent the pump from turning on and off every time a sprinkler head opens. When the tank’s internal bladder fails or it becomes waterlogged, the pump will short cycle, leading to premature failure.
Electrical Problems: From a bad pressure switch to a faulty capacitor or a failed motor, electrical issues are a common cause of pump failure.

Diagnosing and repairing well pump systems requires expertise in both irrigation and well mechanics. It can be dangerous to work on these high-voltage systems without proper training. If you suspect a pump issue, it is always best to call a specialist.

Your Local Westlake Sprinkler Repair Experts

A functional sprinkler system is essential for maintaining a beautiful lawn in North Texas. When problems arise, you need a trusted partner who understands the unique challenges of our local environment. Mr. Sprinkler Repair is dedicated to providing fast, reliable, and expert service to homeowners throughout Westlake and the surrounding communities.

Don’t let a broken sprinkler head or a faulty pump ruin your landscape. We offer same-week appointments to get your system back up and running quickly.

Contact Mr. Sprinkler Repair today to schedule your service visit and keep your Westlake lawn green and healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How often should I have my sprinkler system inspected?
A: We recommend a professional inspection at least once a year, ideally in the spring before you start watering heavily. This allows a technician to catch small issues like clogged nozzles, tilted heads, or minor leaks before they become major problems.

Q: My water bill suddenly spiked. Could it be my sprinkler system?
A: Absolutely. A single broken sprinkler head or a hidden underground pipe leak can waste thousands of gallons of water in a short time, causing a dramatic increase in your water bill. If you suspect a leak, call for a system audit immediately.

Q: Is it worth repairing an old sprinkler system, or should I replace it?
A: It depends on the system’s overall condition. Often, targeted repairs and upgrades—like installing a smart controller, replacing old nozzles with high-efficiency ones, and fixing leaks—can give an older system many more years of effective service. We can provide an honest assessment to help you decide.