Tips for Effective Sprinkler Maintenance

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Any sprinkler system needs some maintenance.  Whether you have pop-up or static heads, a rotor or a spray system, it’s best to keep an eye on your system to make sure it’s working properly.

Sprinkler Maintenance: Water Pressure and Overspray

One thing to constantly have your eye on is the water pressure for your system.  A problem of low water pressure can be caused by a leak in the line.

With higher pressure, the problem is over spraying: you want to limit the amount of water that goes beyond your yard or irrigation space.  Water that lands on pavement or other surfaces is wasted.  Check your system to make sure water is getting to where it needs to be.

Experts cite 25 to 30 PSI as a good range for spray heads and 30 to 50 PSI for rotor heads.

Sprinkler Maintenance: Keep Heads Clean for Effective Delivery

Sprinkler system owners also need to be sure that nothing is clogging the heads, preventing the water from getting sprayed out.  You’ll want to check the heads periodically for dirt or other material that might be blocking the delivery system.

In addition, it’s a good idea to check the heads internally.  Debris from water can build up over time.  Calcification is another problem with heads interiors.  If you have a blocked head, it’s possible something in the interior is causing the jam.  Most sprinkler system heads have easy opening mechanisms for cleaning out the delivery apparatus.

Sprinkler Maintenance: Watch your Timer System

Lots of lawn care professionals say shorter periods of irrigation are more efficient than longer ones.  You may have optimized your timer to spray at perfect intervals, but over time, things change; your timer system may drift from its original calibration.  Be sure to monitor it and call a sprinkler contractor to help with any problems that occur.

Other Sprinkler System Parts

When you check your sprinkler system, you can often catch smaller problems and fix them yourself.  Another problem with pop-up spray heads is that they can catch on yard materials.  Pop-up heads are designed to appear above ground only for irrigation periods and then retract.  It’s a great system, but if dirt, grass, or other material blocks the pathway, you’ll have to clear it out.  Professionals can help with more in-depth sprinkler installation problems like pop-up heads that never move.