Imagine sitting in the lounge chair enjoying your morning coffee. The sprinkler system activates and the sound of water gently sprays around the yard. Ah, the quiet life, is there anything better? You finish up your coffee and step onto the patio to admire your garden in its full mid-summer glory. That’s when you see the pooled water in the far corner of the yard. You cringe and imagine the soggy ground and the damaged grass. A water leak in your sprinkler system can be a real headache. In this guide, we provide you with tips to detect and fix water leaks in your sprinkler system, so you’ll never have to worry about having your mornings ruined again.
How to Detect and Fix Sprinkler Water Leaks in Your Irrigation System
Monitor Your Water Bill
One of the first clues of an undiscovered leak is an over-inflated water bill. If you see your water usage suddenly spike and nothing in your routine has changed, it’s probably a leak.
If there’s no sign of water damage in the house, the irrigation system is the likely culprit. Look for unusual patterns in your water bill by comparing the last three months’ usage.
Visual Examination
Conduct a thorough visual inspection of your sprinkler system: look for obvious signs of leaks.
- Puddles – Look for pools of standing water around the sprinkler heads, valves, or pipes.
- Soggy Spots – If some areas of your lawn are consistently wetter or greener than the rest, you could have an underground leak.
- Moss / Mold / Mildew – Look for moss, mold, or mildew accumulated behind the sprinkler heads due to excessive moisture.
- Low Pressure – Another indication of a leak somewhere in the system is low water pressure in sprinkler heads.
Check the Sprinkler Head Nozzles
Check each sprinkler head’s operation. Typically, an inoperative sprinkler head will leak water only when the system is off. The others release water when the system is running. Look for any broken or damaged sprinkler or spray heads that may have a leak.
Repair or Replace Damaged Sprinkler Heads
If you find a leaking, cracked, or damaged sprinkler head, repair or replace the sprinkler head asap. Follow these steps to replace a damaged sprinkler head.
Leaky Valve Repairs
Leaking valves cause water wastage and huge water bills. Locate the sprinkler valves. They can be near the water source, inside, or buried in the valve box. Follow these steps to replace a leaking valve in your irrigation system.
DIY Pipe Repairs
Dealing with leaking underground pipes can be tricky. Fixing them as soon as possible stops the damage to your property, irrigation system, and bank account. Here’s how to fix a broken pipe.
- Shut off the water to the irrigation system.
- Start digging in the area where you suspect the leak.
- Use a pipe cutter to cut away the bad portion of the pipe.
- Measure and cut a new piece of pipe to replace the damaged section.
- Attach the new section of the pipe to the existing pipe using pipe connectors.
- Add resin as per manufacturer’s specs if required.
- Turn the water supply back on and check for leaks.
While a DIY fix can seem like a cost-effective option, failure to properly repair the pipes can lead to more expensive repairs in the future. It is always advisable to contact a sprinkler repair professional near you to do the job right the first time.
Refurbish Leaky Connection Seals
Leaks are often found in or near the connection from the line to the sprinkler head or valve.
- Turn off the water to the irrigation system.
- Take the connection apart and inspect the threads for damage.
- Apply thread seal tape or pipe dope on threads.
- Reattach the connection and make sure it’s tight.
- Turn on the water supply and check for leaks.
Skip the DIY and Call a Professional
Why go to the hassle of finding leaks in the irrigation system yourself? Hire an irrigation specialist to do it – they’re better at it than you are. Save time, money, and effort and get the job done right the first time with contractors who know what they’re doing.
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! Call 402-934-7900 to schedule your service.
