As we all know, summer can take its toll on our lawn. With longer days of sunshine and higher temperatures, there are also times when we may not receive any rainfall for extended periods of time. If your lawn sprinkler system is not functioning correctly, you will start to see spots of brown in your grass, puddles in certain areas, higher water consumption and some areas that just aren’t getting enough water.
During the summer months, it’s always good to check up on your sprinkler system if you live in Milton. Just some quick summer maintenance will help ensure your lawn stays healthy and prevent wasting water and possibly bigger repairs down the road.
Here are some tips to remember during the summer.
Check Your Sprinkler Heads
There are many things that can damage or move your sprinkler heads. Mowing your lawn, stepping on them, moving dirt around or landscaping can cause them to be damaged.
Turn on your irrigation system and make sure you walk around your home. While each zone is running, look for any sprinkler heads that are:
- Not spraying in the right direction
- Not spraying at all
- Dripping water around the sprinkler head
- Sprinkler heads that have been moved or pushed down into the ground
- Spraying on your sidewalk or driveway
- Not spraying evenly
One bad sprinkler head can cost you lots of water throughout the summer.
You want your sprinkler heads to be spraying your grass and not your driveway, sidewalk or house.
Make Sure There Are No Clogs in the Nozzle
Clogged nozzles are caused by dirt and small objects. There are cases where grass will clog the nozzle and prevent water from spraying properly.
If there is one area on your lawn that seems to be drier than the rest, it’s possible you have a clogged nozzle.
You can inspect the nozzle for any signs of dirt or objects. Once cleaned, if it’s still not working properly, you may have to adjust the nozzle.
Always make sure your nozzles are clear of any objects so your water can spray as it should.
See if You Have Dry and Wet Areas
Sometimes your lawn can show you if your sprinklers are working correctly.
If you have spots that are brown or dry, you may have a clogged or malfunctioning sprinkler. If you notice your grass is too wet or there is standing water, your lawn may be getting too much water.
Areas that tend to show dry or wet patches are along the perimeter of your lawn and flower beds.
You want to make sure your lawn is getting an even amount of water and not too much.
Change Your Sprinkler Settings During the Summer
Just because your sprinkler schedule was working in May does not mean it will work in July or August.
You may have to change your sprinkler settings depending on the weather and how your lawn looks.
Do not increase your watering time just because it’s hot outside.
Too much water can be harmful to your lawn as well. It can leave your ground soaking wet and cause waste.
Make sure to monitor your lawn and landscape when making changes to your sprinklers.
Irrigate Early in the Day
When you run your sprinkler system during the day can affect how much water you use.
Most people like to water their lawns in the early morning hours. It’s cooler out and you’re not going to have as much evaporation as you would if you ran your sprinkler in the middle of the day.
If you water during the hottest part of the day, you’re losing more water before it can reach the roots.
By watering earlier, you allow the grass and landscaping to soak up the water before the hotter temperatures hit.
Make Sure There Are No Leaks
There are some leaks that will show and others that can go undetected underground.
Here are some things to look for when checking for leaks in your sprinkler system:
- Spots of grass that are always wet
- A sprinkler head that is spraying or leaking water around its base
- If you notice low pressure in one of your zones
- Water running after the zone has turned off
- Grass that is growing taller than other spots
You could be wasting a lot of water if you have a leak in your sprinkler system and run it multiple times a week.
Have your sprinkler system checked if you think you may have a leak underground. It’s better to find out now than wait until it’s too late.
Test Your Zones
Your sprinkler system should have multiple zones that are programmed to run. Make sure each zone is working properly during the summer.
Make sure your sprinkler heads are popping up and spraying in the right direction. You may have one zone that is not working without knowing about it.
Make Sure Your Rain Sensor Is Working
Make sure your rain sensor is doing its job. If you have a working rain sensor, your system will not run when it rains. This way, you’re not watering your lawn when it just rained.
Rain sensors can get dirty or may not be installed correctly, so make sure to check on them as well.
New rain sensors and timers can help you save water during the changing seasons.
Water Pressure
Your sprinklers can be affected by water pressure as well.
You may notice that your sprinklers are not shooting as far as they normally do or not spraying as strongly as they should. This could be a sign of something wrong with your irrigation system.
Too much pressure can also be a problem. Water may shoot out in a mist and be blown away or evaporate before it has a chance to reach the ground.
If many of your sprinklers are affected by water pressure changes, you may want to have your system looked at.
Plants and Grass Should Not Cover Your Sprinklers
As the summer goes on, your grass and other landscaping will grow.
There may be some sprinklers that you had no issues with at the beginning of the season, but now they may be covered by plant life.
Make sure your grass and plants are trimmed around your sprinklers.
By doing this, you can have better coverage from your sprinklers and may not need to make any adjustments.
Small Sprinkler Issues Can Lead to Big Problems
If you have one sprinkler head that may be leaking or if one of your zones isn’t running as well as the others, it’s easy to overlook these problems.
When the hot months of summer roll around, you will start to notice these issues more.
Having these problems repaired will save you money on your water bill and keep your landscaping looking its best.
Milton Sprinkler Repair
By maintaining your sprinkler system, you will be able to keep your lawn and landscaping looking great all summer long.
Green Valley Irrigation offers sprinkler repair, installation and maintenance to residential and commercial customers in the Milton area. If you have any issues with your sprinkler system, such as sprinklers not working properly, low pressure or anything else, we can help.
Call us today for sprinkler repair in Milton and ask about our free estimates.
Maintaining your sprinkler system now can save you time and effort later in the summer.