Water conservation—and in some areas, water restriction—is a fact of life for all Texans. So it’s probably a good time to check your sprinkler system to make sure that it’s working in as energy and water efficient a way as possible.
The first thing you should do is turn on each valve in your irrigation system one at a time. As you do so, look for telltale wet spots that could indicate the presence of a leaking irrigation pipe. If you find any leaks at all, get them repaired immediately.
Next, check your irrigation controller battery which is typically of the 9-volt alkaline variety. If it’s not fully charged or if it’s more than two years old, replace it. The battery is typically located behind the front panel of the controller: you may find that you will need to remove some screws or open the panel to reach it.
Inspect all sprinkler heads and straighten any that are leaning to the side. They need to be at a 90° angle to the ground to work properly: the same holds true for sprinkler heads positioned on a slope. If they lean to one side or the other, they may create dry spots and worst of all, waste precious water.
Broken or malfunctioning sprinklers should be replaced. Make sure that you buy the same brand and model of sprinkler as the ones that are on the same valve circuit. You may find that some sprinklers are already mismatched, so you need to replace those as well.
While it’s true that many sprinkler models are now compatible with other models, mixing sprinklers on the same valve circuit can result in needless water loss. However, it is possible to use different sprinkler models if they are on different valve circuits.
Whether you need help with irrigation system advice or repair, South Austin Irrigation can make the job of landscape maintenance easier and more efficient. Call today for service. You’ll be glad you did!
