Nothing can spoil a Saturday landscaping project like cracking a sprinkler line or mangling a garden hose. You grab a shovel and are ready to start planting that perfect shade tree. As you dig into the ground—crack— you’ve hit a water line. Water starts bubbling up from the earth beneath the blade. Not exactly the smooth home improvement experience you had in mind. Discover why you must locate sprinkler systems and hoses before planting trees or building structures.
Avoid Costly Mistakes: Locate Sprinklers and Hoses Before Planting or Building
The Secret Labyrinth in Your Backyard
Your sprinkler systems might look like a bunch of heads sticking out of your lawn and flowerbeds. But a lot is going on below the surface.
The underground system of pipes connected to the heads stretches across the yard. Your irrigation system is weaving in and out of flower beds and tunnels beneath walkways. And where you plan to dig your new flowerbed or deck foundation.
The same goes for garden hoses. Leaving them unfurled around the yard means there’s a risk you’ll chop into them when you’re digging.
Locate Sprinkler Systems and Hoses Before Planting Trees: Spot Trouble Before It Starts
Blindly excavating the ground is a risk, and chances are you won’t enjoy the results. A little preparation saves you frustration and money in contractor expenses to fix the damage.
Workers bury irrigation pipes just a few inches below the surface, making it easy to hit them when digging. Just a gentle tap is all it takes to cause a crack, and the next thing you know, it’s leaking.
Before you start your project, inspect your system and walk through the yard to identify the pipework and remove hoses lying on the ground. This simple task helps to avoid unwanted surprises. Look for sprinkler heads and mark out the pattern.
Installers typically space sprinkler heads equally. Following them out in pencil provides a good idea of where the pipes run.
- Do you have a blueprint for the system? If so, now’s the time to pull it out for a quick review before you start.
- Did you lose it years ago? Switch on the system for a while and watch how the water flows. That strategy can pinpoint problem spots.
Start Shallow
Leaping right into the job with power tools or a post-hole digger without testing the ground is just asking for problems. Start with a hand shovel or trowel, especially if there’s potential for striking water or sewer lines.
Stop if you hit a resistance that’s not a tree root. A little patience yields dividends.
Digging too deep increases the risk of damaging the lines buried eight to ten inches deep. Damaging the line means you’ll need to dig up the entire area and replace the damaged section of the system. That will likely take you longer than it would to complete your project.
Did you forget to locate the sprinkler system hoses before planting a tree? How to Identify A Broken Sprinkler
It is possible to damage the system and not realize it immediately. A broken sprinkler pipe means water flows out of the pipe and reduces the water supply to sprinkler heads. Here are some signs to look for:
- Water pooling around the sprinkler head
- Drop in water pressure (A typical system runs at about 30 pounds per square inch psi)
- An uneven amount of water is distributed in the damaged areas
First, look for visual damage to the system. Identify the affected irrigation zone. This can be done by turning each zone on one at a time. Call your sprinkler system installation expert if you can not pinpoint the source. They can locate the source of the damage and adjust spray patterns to maintain efficient watering.
Working Around an Existing Sprinkler System
Before you start a large project, you may need to redirect the system. While it’s possible to redirect the lines, it’s a big job, and you’re better off working around them if you can.
Moving the flowerbed a few feet or changing the patio size can help avoid fixing or replacing broken pipes.
A Little Homework Avoids Huge Headaches: Locate Sprinkler Systems and Hoses Before Planting Trees
Spending a few minutes mapping out sprinklers and clearing hoses saves you:
- Time
- Money
- A massive headache
Spending your weekend repairing pipes or fixing hoses is a waste of time. Plan the job properly before you start, and you won’t have any problems.
Call the experts if you’re having trouble locating where you put your sprinkler blueprint. A landscaping company can map the system correctly. This will cost you far less than the time and money you waste replacing pipework or hoses.
The professionals have the knowledge and experience to complete the job. You’ll avoid the risk of wasting water and money. For your safety, you should also call before you start any excavation project. To avoid damage to utilities.
Call Nebraska 811 at 800-331-5666 if you damage any underground facilities during excavation.
Pioneer Underground Lawn Sprinklers | Sprinkler System Repairs and Maintenance Omaha, NE
Contact Pioneer Underground Lawn Sprinklers to schedule a free estimate on a system install or to find out what you can do to make your existing system more efficient. We welcome commercial and residential clients. And remember, whether you need our services now… or later in the season, Your Healthy Lawn is Our Passion and we are only a phone call away.
