Don’t Wait For Your Plants and Grass To Die. Repair Your Irrigation System Today.

It is no secret that Texas weather has gotten a bit erratic, which means that we can experience more or less precipitation on any given day. It is easy to blame things on the weather, but ignoring issues brewing under the ground may mean big problems ahead. Parched soil isn’t just the result of changing weather systems; it may also indicate that your irrigation system is no longer working correctly.

Failing to act promptly to repair a broken or failing irrigation system can turn a simple repair into a costly one that requires more than just a few parts. Irrigation systems that are not working properly can lead to erosion and ruined landscaping. This is a significant issue because not only will your property become unsightly, but dead plants have to be replaced, and that in itself is a costly situation to find yourself dealing with. The good news is that April is the best month to make adjustments to your systems as the weather hasn’t reached peak temperatures.

How to Spot an Issue with Your Irrigation Systems

With that in mind, it is essential to know how to spot an issue brewing with your irrigation system. We know that you are not a landscaper, but there are some pretty easy ways to spot issues. One dead giveaway is if small sections of your yard appear to be yellowed or discolored. Other signs include brown patches, yellow striping, or mud on the sidewalk, even when there hasn’t been rain in weeks. This indicates that your irrigation system is leaking somewhere and, ironically, could be drowning your plants and shrubs – a significant issue since most landscaping in Texas is designed to thrive in the heat with minimal water exposure.

Another telltale sign of damage to your irrigation system is if you find holes near spray heads or pipes. This could be a sign of a lateral line leak. A lateral line leak can cause pressure loss to the spray heads. This can become an even greater problem as it can allow dirt to get into the valve – a problem you don’t want to have.

Here are some other obvious signs that your irrigation system is in need of repair:

• Flooded areas between the sprinkler heads signify a steady leak in a lateral line that lays below the ground’s surface. If you see water spurting between the sprinkler heads, a lateral line below the ground is broken and can blow out the soil above it.
• If you notice water trickling out of the irrigation head well after the system was turned off, that could also indicate that a valve is leaking or weeping below ground. Not to get too technical, but this could mean that the diaphragm seal is worn, and water is seeping from it around the clock. Alternatively, it could mean the valve is clogged, which prevents it from fully closing.
• If you see a gushing water spout, there is a broken spray head or a water leak in the irrigation line. Leaks in the irrigation line can cause a significant and noticeable change in water pressure and can result in water shooting up into the air.
• If you see that grass is taller or darker directly around a sprinkler head than the rest of the grass, this could indicate that a pipe is cracked or broken, thus, over-saturating the area.
• Do you notice water dribbling over the curb? This could be a sign of poor water drainage and over-irrigation or poor drainage, or it could indicate a broken irrigation head in the area.
• Another sign your irrigation system is in need of repair is if a sprinkler isn’t spraying water as far as it used to. Or a sprinkler is spraying dirty water – this indicates a ruptured line underground that is washing soil into your sprinkler line.

If you notice any of these signs or suspect you have an issue, contact us right away. Our maintenance team routinely checks for these issues when they conduct site visits, but if they occur following their visit and before their next, we need an “all hands on deck” approach and to be alerted by your staff before the problems become costly. We never charge a service fee to check on an irrigation system, so you have nothing left to lose by asking us to take a look.

What If I Have Drip Irrigation System?

It will be much easier to spot a problem if you have a drip Irrigation system since the pipes and emitters are all above ground. Although these types of systems require more maintenance because of the exposed piping, it is easy to fix for the same reason. Drip systems are known to draw in animals looking for a water source, but they often chew through the piping in the process. Additionally, the sun and heat swell the pipes. Although it sounds like they offer more problems than solutions, that’s simply not the case. Drip irrigation systems are more efficient than spray irrigation (even though they require more maintenance). Still, our crews would be happy to teach some on-site maintenance to your property managers for quick and easy fixes.

Failing Irrigation Systems Lead to Damage

There are a lot of everyday activities that can lead to irrigation systems failing. Children or people walking across them to cut across parking lot beds or landscaping beds near the entranceway is all it takes to break a spray head. These repairs can be simple, but not if you wait too long. Irrigation issues can escalate quickly when ignored.

The first problem is that watering too much is just as problematic as not watering enough in Texas. The second issue is that too much water (commonly caused by a leak in the lateral line) will result in erosion which compromises your landscape and the safety of your residents. Plants not only offer shade and look pretty, but they hold dirt in place, which is essential structurally in some cases.

On the flip side, a lack of water can cause clay soil to dry out, and since almost all soil in Texas is clay, there is a good chance that is what surrounds the foundations of your commercial properties. Without enough water, the clay dehydrates and shifts, which can cause your foundation to shift. Poor irrigation can cause even new properties to decay in just five years. This loss is monumental compared to the minimal costs of irrigation repair.

Slow Repair May Mean Higher Expenses for Your Business

Finally, all of this aside, it is crucial to remember how much the typical irrigation system costs the average business. Irrigation systems are not cheap and are valuable property investments, so as a business owner, you need to protect them the same way you would any other investment. Your best bet is to have your irrigation system maintained monthly, but issues can arise in-between visits, and it only takes a few weeks for plants to die, etc.

Therefore, you should contact us between your maintenance visits if you suspect an issue. As we mentioned, the inspection is free, and we are willing to work with all of our customers to work out the financial details. We offer flexible billing options, including the option to bill a month later. Contact us today to talk about the condition of your irrigation system.