Why Underground Irrigation Systems Leak
When you have an underground drip irrigation or lawn sprinkler system, after some period of use, it may develop leaks which will need to be repaired. Leaks can create soggy patches in your planting beds or yard, reduce the water pressure in your system – which means that some drip lines or sprinkler heads may not work properly or at all, and drive up your water bill. If you suspect there are leaks in your system, turn off the system’s water supply and call Irrigation Tech. We will schedule an appointment and send a trained service tech to your location to check for, troubleshoot, and repair the leaks.
1. Controller Problems
Controllers can malfunction and keep the irrigation system running for hours. Controllers have clocks that determine when it is time to turn the sprinklers on and off. If controllers are accidentally bumped or changed, then the default settings can cause water to run long after it should have stopped. Electrical shorts, surges, and lightning strikes can also damage controllers.
2. Sprinkler Valve Problems
Sprinkler valves are housed in boxes where underground pipes converge. The inside of the box should be dry, not wet. If a box is wet or even flooded, there may be a valve fitting in the box that needs to be repaired or replaced.
3. Sprinkler Head Problems
Sprinkler heads can malfunction if they are clipped by a lawn mower or run over by yard maintenance or construction equipment or chewed by a pet. They can also become clogged or worn out after years of use. Evidence of a sprinkler head problem includes flooding around the base of the sprinkler head, and water spraying forcefully or in the wrong direction.
4. Underground Line Problems
Underground drip lines which lay on the surface of the ground or below the mulch, sprinkler supply lines, and wiring, which are usually buried only a few inches deep, can be accidentally punctured, cracked, or cut when installing landscaping and hardscapes, fences, and underground cables. They can also be chewed by animals. When a drip line or sprinkler supply line is damaged, the water pressure needed for drip line or the sprinkler heads on the line is reduced – or cut off altogether – and the drip line or heads will not function properly. The soil around the leak will also become saturated and soggy. If wiring is chewed by an animal, a zone, or the entire system, may not work.
If you are located in the Finger Lakes Region and are looking for a drip irrigation or lawn sprinkler system installation or an upgrade to an existing system, annual maintenance, repair, or backflow testing, reach out to Irrigation Tech in Pittsford, NY. Our team of irrigation experts has been serving Rochester, Monroe County, and other communities in the Finger Lakes Region for nearly 40 years. With 10 service trucks, you can trust our fully certified team for fast and efficient service – including backflow device installation and testing. Call 877-8-IRRIGATE to speak with a team member or visit irrigationtech.com to learn more.