An irrigation system makes watering a lawn in Dallas, TX a whole lot easier, especially considering the alternative involves dragging a hose with a sprinkler attachment around your lawn and timing its placement in each spot. It’s much nicer to “set it and forget it” with a sprinkler system, but it’s important to vigilantly check on your system to quickly catch any possible leaks. Even a small leak can cause lawn damage or structural damage to your house, so the importance of keeping a watchful eye cannot be overstated. Here are 5 common signs that your irrigation system may be leaking:
- Visible Damage to Parts
The first thing you will want to check for periodically is any visible damage to the irrigation system parts. Check each sprinkler head to make sure they are all in good condition with no cracks or broken pieces. Cars, animals, and lawn equipment are just a few threats that can cause damage. Once you detect a damaged part, repairing or replacing that part can be an easy fix to what may have been causing a leak.
- Puddles
Puddles may be fun for children to jump in, but they don’t belong in the middle of the lawn. Survey your lawn to see if there are any spots that are consistently wet. Lawn puddles may be caused by a dip in the ground where water may collect and pool after a rainstorm, but you will want to look for spots that seem to stay wet even when it hasn’t been raining, and even if the ground is even. If either is the case, there’s a good chance you have a leak.
- Lawn Damage
Water that is constantly running will drown the roots of your lawn, causing that part of the lawn to wilt. Look for any pathetic-looking spots where you have no other explanation for the damage. More than likely it will be one area of the lawn as opposed to many dead patches throughout, which probably will be caused by something else like insects or lawn disease. When there is too much water due to a leak, grass will look limp and may be more subject to fungal invasions. An irrigation system leak can also cause an area of the lawn to be too dry, due to a loss of water pressure in that area, so look for a dry, dead spot as well.
- Water Pressure
Speaking of water pressure, it’s a good idea to check the pressure of your irrigation system periodically. To do this, turn on the system and watch the water flow. If the water is coming out more slowly in one area, or if the water coverage does not overlap, you may have a leak. It’s a good idea to mark the trouble areas with a flag or a rock that you can easily find when the water isn’t running. In this case, you may have to dig to find the leak or call in a professional.
- Meter Indications
Detecting a leak early can save you time and money when fixing the problem. If you need further help with your irrigation system in Dallas, TX, call CGreens at 972-231-2870.
Cgreens Landscape Management | Irrigation System Dallas TX | 972-231-2870
