Sprinkler Repair Dos and Don’ts – Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Sprinkler repair is essential for several reasons. By continually inspecting your sprinkler and actively engaging in sprinkler repair, you can conserve water, lower your bills, and maintain the health of your garden. However, homeowners fall into many pitfalls when they try to perform sprinkler repair. In this helpful post, we’ll provide you with essential information on how to successfully manage your sprinkler system and what common mistakes to avoid.

How To Diagnose If You Need Sprinkler Repair

Identifying Visible Signs

There are many indicators that your sprinkler system is experiencing issues. These indicators are obvious if you know where to look and what they look like. For example, you can check your sprinkler heads and see if there is any visible damage on them. If a sprinkler head has a cracked casing, chips on it, or the heads are stuck in the ground, the problem should be inspected further. If the sprinkler head leaks or has created soggy spots on your lawn, even when the system is off, it is time to repair or replace it.

Recognizing Hidden Internal Performance Issues

Yet, even if there are no visible signs of damage, your sprinkler system could be facing performance issues. Just because you can’t see it with the naked eye doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Luckily, there are ways for you to be able to find them. For instance, if you notice sudden drops in water pressure when your sprinkler heads activate, that could indicate a performance issue. Other underlying issues could be corrosion inside the pipes or sprinkler heads. Malfunctioning valves, faulty backflow preventers, or damaged pressure regulators can also affect the overall system performance. These are some of the issues you should look into further if you notice your sprinkler system’s efficiency is declining, but there are no physical issues you can find.

The Most Common DIY Sprinkler Repair Mistakes

Confusing Sprinkler Components with System Design

Many sprinkler system homeowners confuse sprinkler components with system design, which can lead to ineffective sprinkler irrigation management. Sprinkler irrigation components are the physical parts of the irrigation system, like sprinkler heads, valves, pipes, and controllers. Sprinkler systems and sprinkler system design are the overall layout and planning of how these components work together.
You may be thinking, “What’s the difference? They both sound the same!” Many homeowners fail to consider the whole picture when it comes to sprinkler irrigation. If you mistake sprinkler irrigation components with the system itself, it can result in a costly mistake.

For example, one part of your sprinkler irrigation system seems to be lacking in efficiency. Maybe your sprinkler heads are weak and barely watering your plants. You might replace your sprinkler heads with new, upgraded ones, only to find those experiencing the same issues. Then, when you look closer, you realize it wasn’t the sprinkler heads; it was just the wrong kind of head type altogether! A deep understanding of how your system works will save you time and money in the long run.

Neglecting Daily Maintenance Needs

It is important not to neglect your sprinkler repair checks or problems you have uncovered. Many homeowners may neglect the task due to cost concerns, lack of time, underestimating sprinkler repair’s importance, or not feeling the issue warrants a repair visit. By doing this, the natural consequences can be significant. For one, it will damage and stress your plants, leading to dry or wilting vegetation or root rot. It will increase your water bills, decrease your property value and wastewater, and make the repair job larger and more costly later. That’s why inspecting and fixing any minor sprinkler issues as soon as you discover them is essential.

When You Need to Call a Professional for Sprinkler Repair

Complex System Malfunctions & Electrical Malfunctions

It is admirable to try and DIY your sprinkler system repair, but sometimes, it is best to get professional help. A professional will have specialized tools and knowledge for fixing major leaks, pipe damage, valve replacement, and performing tasks like pressure regulation inspections and controller reprogramming. A professional can have confidence the problem will be resolved. It is especially important to have a professional sprinkler technician if it involves electrical malfunctions in your irrigation system. It can become dangerous if you try to fix the electrical issues yourself, especially if the wires are damaged, and there is a possibility of harming yourself.

Constant Leaks & Recurring Problems

You should also consider a professional for sprinkler repair if you are experiencing constant leaks. You should also consider a professional for sprinkler repair if you are experiencing constant leaks if puddles are forming around sprinkler heads and pipes, or if the same issues keep popping up even after you make any repairs yourself. It will greatly benefit you to get an expert opinion who can discover any technical issues requiring specialized knowledge. Don’t delay professional help if you need it. It will be better and more cost-effective if you hire a professional for your sprinkler repair job, especially if the latter option is to throw your hands up in frustration and decide to ignore it since it doesn’t seem that serious.