Tips for Maintaining a Lawn Sprinkler System

Are you interested in having a lawn sprinkler system installed at your home? While this type of system is something that lets you set and forget about watering your lawn, a lot of work needs to be done to maintain the system. Here are a few tips for maintaining your lawn's sprinkler system.

Check the Sprinkler Heads 

Each spring you should be checking the sprinkler heads to make sure that they are in good condition. You do not want to be caught off guard and discover that one of them is broken weeks after you have had the sprinkler system running. It's best to get on top of any repairs early on in the year.

Look for Leaks

When you first run the sprinkler system, check for leaks to make sure that you are not wasting water. Water lines, fittings, and valves can all potentially leak water if they are damaged during the winter freeze, so make sure that everything is in good condition.

Check the Rain Sensor

The rain sensor is going to prevent your sprinklers from going off if it is raining. Make sure that the rain sensor is still working by spraying water over it and turning on the sprinklers. If it's working as intended, the sprinklers shouldn't turn on. 

Check Your Sprinkler Overlap

You'll also want to make sure that the sprinkler heads are overlapping the water properly. It's possible that the sprinkler heads may have changed position since the last time you used them, which will cause the water to not overlap properly. Make any adjustments to the sprinkler heads now so that you have even coverage across your lawn. 

Trim Trees That Are Blocking Sprinkler Heads

You'll also want to take a look at how trees and shrubs have grown since you last used your sprinkler system. You may be surprised to discover that they have grown a bit and now are blocking the path of the water from the sprinkler heads. You'll need to trim back these plants so that you have an even coverage of water over your lawn. 

Clear the Lines Prior to Winter

When the weather starts to get cold outside, you are going to have to clear the water lines prior to the weather freezing outside. Having water freeze in your sprinkler lines runs the risk of having sprinkler heads break and water lines burst. You can run air through the system to force all of the water out, which can be done by a professional if you do not have the equipment to do it yourself.

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