A lot of homeowners do not know much about landscaping, particularly when it comes to lawn care. In fact, about a third of homeowners, according to some studies, do not know how often they need to water their lawn, or how much it needs to be watered when they do. This is what makes sprinkler systems so beneficial—they can be programmed to give your lawn exactly the amount of water they need.
But when these sprinkler systems start to malfunction, you’re left to deal with the problem yourself once again. Every so often these sprinklers do break down, so to prevent damage to your lawns and avoid significantly larger utility and water bills, it’s important you’re able to pinpoint the signs of a dying sprinkler early on so you can stay on top of your sprinkler system maintenance in Burlington County, NJ.
Here are some of the most common signs your sprinkler system might be having some problems:
- Soggy areas in your lawn: Overwatering can do a number on your lawn—you shouldn’t have to deal with swampy, soggy areas of your yard when you walk out of your house every morning. The problem could be a leak in plumbing line or a sprinkler head, improper rotation or incorrect zone settings. Have a professional technician come out and inspect your system to diagnose the problem so you know exactly how to repair it.
- Sputtering: If you notice the sprinkler heads in your lawn starting to sputter while they’re operating, this means there’s a problem inside the component you need to address. Sputtering sprinklers can result in overwatering and underwatering, depending on the location of the sprinkler and the settings you have for your lawn. The problem could have to do with the pressurization of the system or issues with the internal seals and valves, but you’ll need to work with a sprinkler professional to make sure you correctly diagnose the issue.
- Poor pressure: If you notice the water is merely dribbling out of the sprinkler heads rather than spraying as usual, this could be a problem with malfunctioning regulators or valves. The reverse can also happen—you could have sprinklers that are shooting out water in jet blasts, resulting in damage to your plants or other items in your yard. This is a definite sign that you need to schedule some repairs to your sprinkler system.
- Dry areas: Just as soggy areas in your lawn indicate overwatering issues, dry areas in your lawn indicate issues with underwatering. This is a problem you probably won’t notice as quickly—it will take days or weeks before the patches of your yard that aren’t getting enough water start to look visibly distressed. You’ll probably notice the grass starting to yellow. This is a sign that the sprinklers are not watering your lawn appropriately.
For more information about the most common signs of sprinkler system issues, the team at Star Sprinkler Systems Inc. is here to help. Contact our sprinkler system company in Burlington County, NJ today!