Irrigation Maintenance Tips To Avoid Costly Sprinkler Flooding

5/28/2019 (Permalink)

It's important to regularly inspect your sprinkler system.

Don’t like getting your feet wet? Proper irrigation maintenance practices and performing regular inspections of your system in Kansas City, MO, can help you avoid sprinkler flooding and the problems that come along with it, but this is particularly important when turning on your system after a long period of inactivity. Failing to properly inspect your system before reactivating it can result in wasted water, poor plant health, and contamination caused by over-irrigation and run-off.

5 Places You Should Check 

One of the best ways to prevent problems is to check areas of your system that have common problems. Follow these guidelines for each area:

1. Clogged nozzles: Performing regular irrigation maintenance can help you avoid this problem, but it’s a good idea to check nozzles for debris such as dirt and leaves before attempting to reactivate the system.

2. Missing or broken heads: To help avoid sprinkler flooding, be sure to check for any damage to the sprinkler heads. Damage can be caused by lawnmowers, normal wear and tear, improper installation, or even vandalism.

3. Tilted, sunken, or misaligned heads: Look for settling of the heads or build-up that has occurred around them over time. Be sure everything is still aligned properly before attempting to turn on the system.

4. Seal leaks: If you notice a leak in your spray head, you should either replace the whole single unit or the seal under the screw-off top (depending on your device). Leaks can appear in these mechanisms from dirt and debris.

5. Leaking valves or pipes: If leaks are discovered in valves or pipes, they should be promptly replaced. Damage to valves and pipes can be caused by weather, lawn equipment such as shovels or sharp tools, tree roots, or vandalism.

Regular Maintenance and Inspection Goes a Long Way

Regular irrigation maintenance and inspection can go a long way in helping you avoid sprinkler flooding and other associated issues, but how often should you inspect your system? At minimum, the system should be checked twice seasonally; right before it is turned on and halfway through the season. Ideally, the system should be checked on a monthly basis. This will likely optimize your chances of discovering a potential problem before it occurs or before it is able to cost you a lot of time, money, or both.