4 Costly Sprinkler Problems in Lewisville

A healthy, green lawn is the pride of many Lewisville homeowners. Your sprinkler system is the unsung hero that makes it possible, working behind the scenes to keep your landscape thriving. But even the best systems need expert care to stay efficient—Mr. Sprinkler Repair in Lewisville is a trusted provider for maintaining and servicing sprinkler systems across Lewisville. When these systems fail, it can lead to brown patches, wasted water, and expensive repair bills. Problems that seem small can quickly escalate, especially with our area’s clay soil, summer heat, and surprising winter freezes.

Understanding the most common sprinkler issues in Lewisville can help you spot trouble early. This guide will walk you through four costly problems, what causes them, and what you can do about them. From controller glitches to pest damage, we’ll explain when a simple fix is possible—and highlight when it’s best to call Mr. Sprinkler Repair, your local expert for reliable service and solutions.

1. System Controller Forgets Its Schedule

You set your watering schedule perfectly to comply with Lewisville’s water restrictions, only to discover your lawn is either bone-dry or a swamp. The culprit is often a controller that has lost its memory, a frustrating and surprisingly common issue.

Symptoms and Causes

The most obvious sign is a disruption in your watering routine. Your sprinklers might run at the wrong times, for the wrong duration, or not at all.

Common Causes Include:

• Power Outages: A brief power flicker is all it takes to reset many older or basic sprinkler controllers, wiping out your custom watering programs.
• Failing Backup Battery: Most modern controllers have a small battery to save settings during a power loss. If this battery is dead or dying, the memory is the first thing to go.
• Electrical Surges: North Texas thunderstorms can send power surges through your home’s electrical system, frying the delicate circuitry inside your controller.
• Age and Wear: Like any electronic device, a sprinkler controller has a limited lifespan. Internal components can fail over time, leading to memory loss and erratic behavior.

Risks and Fixes

The biggest risks are a damaged landscape and a high water bill. An overwatered lawn can lead to fungal diseases and root rot, especially in our dense clay soil. An underwatered lawn will quickly turn brown and stressed under the Texas sun.

What You Can Do:

• Check the Backup Battery: First, open your controller panel and locate the backup battery. It’s often a small, coin-style battery or a 9-volt. Replacing it is a simple DIY task that can solve the problem instantly.
• Reset and Reprogram: After a power outage, you may just need to re-enter your watering schedule. Take a picture of your program with your phone so you always have it handy.
• Invest in a Surge Protector: Plugging your controller into a quality surge protector can shield it from electrical damage during storms.

When to Call a Pro: If you’ve replaced the battery and the controller still won’t hold its program, it’s likely a sign of internal failure. A professional technician from Mr. Sprinkler Repair can diagnose the unit and recommend a repair or replacement. We can install a modern, Wi-Fi-enabled “smart” controller that retains its schedule in the cloud and even adjusts watering based on local Lewisville weather.

2. A Failed Pump on Your Well Water System

For properties outside city water lines, a pump is the heart of the sprinkler system, drawing water from a well to irrigate the landscape. When the pump fails, your entire system goes down with it.

Symptoms and Causes

The clearest symptom is a complete lack of water pressure. You might hear the pump trying to turn on with a humming or clicking sound, but no water comes out of the sprinkler heads. You may also notice sputtering heads or a circuit breaker that keeps tripping.

Common Causes Include:

• Loss of Prime: The pump needs to be full of water to create suction. If it loses its “prime” due to a leak in the suction line or a faulty foot valve, it will run without moving any water, which can cause it to overheat.
• Electrical Issues: A failed capacitor, bad pressure switch, or damaged wiring can prevent the pump from starting or running correctly.
• Mechanical Failure: Bearings can seize, impellers can get clogged with debris from the well, or the motor can simply burn out from age and heavy use.

Risks and Fixes

Running a pump dry can destroy it in minutes, leading to a costly replacement. Electrical faults are a significant safety hazard. Never attempt to service a pump system yourself unless you are experienced with electrical wiring and pump mechanics.

What You Can Do (Safely):

• Check the Breaker: A tripped breaker is a common issue. Try resetting it once. If it trips again immediately, do not touch it. This indicates a serious electrical problem that needs professional attention.
• Look for Obvious Leaks: Visually inspect the pipes around the pump for any visible leaks or cracks that could be causing it to lose prime.

When to Call a Pro: Pump systems are complex and dangerous. Due to the high risk of electric shock and potential for expensive damage, any issue beyond a simple breaker reset should be handled by a qualified technician. Mr. Sprinkler Repair has the expertise to safely diagnose pump failures, repair electrical components, re-prime the system, and replace broken pumps.

3. Improper Winter Shutdown

Many people think Texas winters are too mild to worry about winterizing their sprinklers. But all it takes is one hard freeze—a common occurrence in the Lewisville area—to crack pipes, damage valves, and destroy sprinkler heads. Failing to properly shut down your system is one of the most expensive mistakes a homeowner can make.

Symptoms and Causes

The damage from an improper winter shutdown often doesn’t appear until you start your system in the spring. You might see geysers of water shooting up from a broken pipe underground, water bubbling around a sprinkler head, or a valve that won’t shut off.

The single cause is water left in the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads when temperatures drop below 32°F. As water freezes, it expands with incredible force, easily cracking rigid PVC pipes and delicate valve components.

Risks and Fixes

A single broken pipe can lead to a massive underground leak that erodes your soil, damages your foundation, and wastes thousands of gallons of water. Repairing these underground lines involves digging up your lawn and can be labor-intensive. A cracked backflow preventer is another common and expensive repair.

What You Can Do:

• Insulate Above-Ground Components: At a minimum, shut off the water to your sprinkler system and wrap the main valve and any exposed pipes with foam insulation sleeves or towels.
• Drain the System: Some systems have manual drain valves you can open to let water out. However, this method rarely removes all the water.

When to Call a Pro: The only guaranteed way to protect your system is with a professional “blowout” service. A technician from Mr. Sprinkler Repair uses a high-volume air compressor to force every last drop of water out of your pipes, valves, and heads. This is the gold standard for winterization and ensures your system will be safe through even the coldest North Texas nights.

4. Pest Infestations in Pipes and Heads

You might not think of pests as a threat to your sprinkler system, but insects and rodents can cause significant damage. They are drawn to the moisture and shelter that irrigation components provide.

Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms often look like other problems—a sprinkler head that doesn’t pop up, low pressure in one zone, or a patch of grass that is suddenly too wet or too dry. Upon closer inspection, you might find the real cause.

Common Culprits Include:

• Ants and Grubs: Fire ants love to build mounds around sprinkler heads. Their nests can clog the pop-up mechanism, preventing the head from rising or retracting. Grubs in the soil can also attract digging animals that damage pipes.
• Rodents: Gophers, moles, and even rats can chew through poly or PVC pipes underground, creating leaks that are difficult to locate.
• Wasps: Mud daubers and other wasps sometimes build nests inside open nozzles on taller shrub-style sprinkler heads, completely blocking water flow.

Risks and Fixes

Pest damage can be tricky to diagnose and locate. A chewed pipe can create a slow, hidden leak that only becomes obvious when you receive a high water bill. Clogged heads lead to dry spots and stressed turf.

What You Can Do:

• Regularly Inspect Heads: As part of your lawn care routine, walk your property and check on sprinkler heads. Clear away any ant mounds or dirt that may be blocking them.
• Use a Wire to Clear Nozzles: If you suspect a wasp nest in a nozzle, you can often clear it with a small piece of wire (with the water turned off, of course).

When to Call a Pro: If you have persistent low pressure in a zone and can’t find the source, it could be an underground leak from rodent damage. A professional has the tools and experience to pressurize the system and locate hidden leaks without destroying your entire lawn. Mr. Sprinkler Repair can pinpoint the damage, repair the pipe, and advise on strategies to deter future pest issues.

Protect Your Investment with Professional Care

Your sprinkler system is a valuable asset that saves you time and keeps your Lewisville landscape beautiful. By staying aware of these common problems, you can take proactive steps to prevent costly damage. For issues involving electrical components, pumps, or winterization, the safest and most effective solution is to call an expert.

Don’t wait for a small issue to become a major expense. Contact Mr. Sprinkler Repair today to schedule an inspection, repair service, or a professional winterization blowout. We’re here to keep your system running efficiently all year long.