Sprinkler systems are fascinating. They allow you to have a lush, green lawn without having to water it with a hose or continually move sprinklers around. Sprinklers, as wonderful as they are, are mechanical systems that need maintenance and attention. Here are a few tips for maintaining them in their best shape:
Check the Water Pressure
When it comes to water pressure, you may have one of two problems: too much or not enough. Both of them are bad for your yard. Excessive pressure may not only overwater your grass, but it may also harm the sprinkler head. If you apply too little pressure, your grass will beg for water. These problems might be caused by low water pressure in your town or city, but a fault could also cause them with your sprinkler head. First, ensure they are clean and clear of dirt. Rotor heads require 30-50 PSI, whereas spray heads require 25-30 PSI. Pressure can be changed by adjusting the pressure-reducing valves. See the manufacturer’s handbook for instructions.
Clean Out Your Sprinkler Heads
To begin, ensure that your sprinkler heads are clear of debris and grass cuttings. These may limit the mobility of your sprinkler head. Clean the dirt out of the sprinkler head as well. This can be accomplished by removing the head and flushing it with water from a nearby hose. Keep a close eye on your sprinklers later on, to see if the water flow still seems clogged.
Adjust Settings for Less Permeable Soil
Change your sprinkler timer to cycle and soak if you have clay soils or if your sprinkler is positioned on a slope: When the sprinkler is on an upslope or heavy clay soil, it takes longer for water to percolate deep into the soil. To address this issue, program your system to turn off in 7-minute intervals to see whether that is the appropriate amount of time before the water begins to flow out. That time can be adjusted depending on how long it takes for the run-off to start.
After that, set your sprinkler timer to go off every seven minutes or so to enable water to seep deeply into the soil. After seven minutes, your lawn sprinkler will switch off for seven minutes before turning back on for another round.
Measure How Much Water Your Lawn Is Getting
Your grass and garden require one inch of water each week for optimal health. A quality sprinkler system should be able to provide 1″ of water in 15 minutes.
Set up tuna cans in different watering zones to see how much water your sprinkler provides in 15 minutes. Then, for 15 minutes, turn on your sprinkler system. After the 15-minute timer has expired, use a ruler to determine how much water is in the zone’s cans. If it only displays a quarter-inch, you may need to modify your system, search for a leak, or clear a sprinkler head.
Repair Leaks ASAP
A minor leak, like most plumbing difficulties, may lead to much greater ones. Not only might the grass and garden receive too much water near the leak while receiving insufficient watering elsewhere in the yard, but your water bill may also spike up as a result of unnecessary consumption.
Maintain an eye on the overall water flow of the sprinkler system. Check that the water pressure is uniform and that there are no sections of the grass that are drier or wetter than others.
Conclusion
A lawn sprinkler is a wise investment for your house, but like with any other piece of equipment that incorporates pipes, some upkeep is unavoidable. We recommend hiring an irrigation system inspection contractor to audit your sprinkler system once or twice a month.
Extreme Irrigation and lawn has over 15 years of industry experience and offers one of the best lawn sprinkler repairs in Tulsa. Contact us at (918) 946-6652 to get a quote today!