A leaking sprinkler isn’t just an inconvenience, but something that can end up costing you a lot of money. On top of that, you’re wasting water – one of the most essential resources that we have on the planet. If you find puddles or brown spots on your lawn, or your water bill has recently skyrocketed; you could have a leaking sprinkler system. Sprinkler leaks are like the gremlins of gardening; they can be hard to locate once they’ve started.
How to Tell If a Sprinkler System is Leaking
Listen To The Sprinkler System
We all know the sound that a sprinkler system should make. People who spend a lot of time in the garden or outside may notice that their sprinkler system simply sounds abnormal to them.
If the sound of your sprinkler system suddenly changes, then it could indicate that there’s a problem. Especially if the sound wasn’t occurring yesterday or the day before that.
Turn the water on, and start looking for the source of the leak if you notice a change in the sound of the sprinkler’s spray. Particularly if it goes along with other potential signs.
Regularly examine the entire length of your lawn and garden irrigation system during watering cycles. This is also a good time to check for:
- Proper water distribution
- Damaged or broken spray heads
- Leaking valves
- The sprinkler valve box (valve box should be dry)
Wet Patches Along the Sprinkler Line From A Leaking Sprinkler System
Wet patches along the sprinkler line not caused by early morning rain or other sources, could mean the leak is coming from your sprinkler. Water pooling between the sprinkler heads can indicate a steady leak.
If your system is running, and there’s an active sprinkler leak, the water still has to go somewhere. This could create a moist surface on your lawn or sidewalk. Look under the recurring wet patch in your lawn or garden. You are likely to find the source of the sprinkler leak on your first try.
Remember to examine the rest of the sprinkler supply line too. Sometimes you may have more than one leak causing a problem.
Dead or Dying Patches in the Garden
Do you notice that your garden isn’t as bright and lively as it was yesterday? Look for signs that a sprinkler leak may be present.
Some plants react to the sudden change in their regular watering routine. When there isn’t adequate water flow to the plants and trees in your garden it could cause plants to die off. You could see dead or dying patches in the garden – or plants reacting with sagging leaves as a result.
An Increased Water Bill
An increased water bill is one of the first things that you should look at. Particularly if you suddenly appear to be using a lot more water than usual.
Examine water lines along the entire length of your sprinkler system. Water is pretty expensive, and a leaking sprinkler system can cost you a lot more.
Reduced Water Pressure
When taking a look at the entire sprinkler line, note any reduced water pressure at one (or more) of the sprinkler heads. When there’s a water leak present somewhere, you can sometimes expect to see highly reduced water pressure. This can affect one or more sprinkler heads or it can affect the entire line at the same time.
Reduced water pressure could indicate several different issues. A water leak in your sprinkler is one of the most common reasons why this may happen. If you can combine several issues in this post with reduced pressure in the pipes, you’re probably looking at a sprinkler leak.
If you notice any of the problems listed above, contact the Omaha sprinkler system professionals. They can help fix the section causing the problem to get your garden and watering routine back to normal.
Pioneer Underground Lawn Sprinklers | Omaha’s Best Commercial & Residential Sprinkler Systems
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.
