Keep your sprinklers functioning all summer
As the summer heat begins, a working sprinkler system is needed now more than ever. Whether you need to keep your lawn a lush green or want to provide early morning water for your summer vegetable garden, your sprinkler system should be operating at optimal levels. However, on the off chance that you have turned your sprinkler on and no water is coming out, we have gathered together a few helpful guidelines. By understanding the intricacies of a sprinkler system, you should be able to fix the majority of issues that are keeping water from flowing properly.
A Guide to Fixing Sprinkler Issues
Before you can figure out why water isn’t coming out when your sprinkler is turned on, you must first understand the sprinkler system. A sprinkler system features multiple components. The controller unit will send a signal to the control valves, which are usually located in the control valve box. Once the signal has reached the control valves, they will open and send water through the underground water line. Once the water has reached the sprinkler heads, the sprinklers will pop up and begin to spray water.
The multiplicity of moving parts can sometimes cause a breakdown within the sprinkler system. If this is the case, then your sprinkler might be turned on, but the water might fail to reach the surface. Below are a few common sprinkler issues that can be resolved using a sprinkler or pump repair kit.
- Find any broken sprinkler heads. — A broken sprinkler head is one of the number one reasons that water isn’t appearing when the sprinkler system is turned on. Broken sprinkler heads can be identified by looking for cracked casings, broken plastic pieces, or heads that are stuck in the ground. If you find a broken sprinkler head, be sure to replace it with the same exact model.
- Clean sprinkler heads. — Sprinkler heads can become clogged when dirt and other debris find their way inside. Clogged heads can keep water from spraying. If you notice that your sprinkler heads are particularly dirty, take the time to clean the head and the plastic screen basket.
- Check your water pressure. — Low water pressure will cause sprinkler heads to barely spray water; or worse, they might not pop up out of the ground. Make sure that the valves on your backflow device are fully open to provide the highest level of water pressure.
- Make sure that there aren’t any leaks in the water line. — A leak in the water line can keep water from flowing properly. Generally speaking, the water line issue is typically located between the last working sprinkler head and the first nonworking sprinkler head. Look for signs of leaking water or bubbling water to find the source of your water line leak. Once you have resolved the leak, you should find that your sprinkler heads are once again functioning properly.
With these tips in mind, you should be able to resolve your sprinkler issue, so that you can get back to successfully watering your plants, trees, shrubs, and yard. For more information on purchasing a pump repair kit or for help with sprinkler maintenance, contact an expert at Irrigation Outlet today!
