Tips – Fall Sprinkler System Maintenance

After a long, drawn-out summer, fall is finally here!  Although, the last few days have felt more like the chilly winter for our North Texas area.  As the temperature changes and the grass, plants, shrubs, and trees all require less water, sprinkler systems in the North Texas area will be needed to be used less and less often.  Typically during the cooler months of November through to March, homeowners will only need to water once a week at the most for approximately five minutes each zone.  This serves to replace the water that is lost due to transpiration.  Quite often, there is rarely a need to water during the winter months when plants are dormant.  (Please check with the appropriate city to determine specific watering restrictions and watering days.)

Each fall, homeowners should take the time to conduct some maintenance on their sprinkler system to help keep it in prime condition for the next spring and summer.

Check to see that the sprinkler system is functioning correctly.  Make sure that the sprinkler heads are not blocked and that they are directed to the areas where they should be watering.  Homeowners can do a simple check of the sprinkler system by turning on a single station at a time.  It is a good idea to check the sprinkler system on a monthly basis.  The majority of newer controller models have a test function that can be used to check the sprinkler system.  Most are preset to run for two minutes per station.  Simply walk through the property as each station runs and look for geysers or low pressure areas.  If there is a station that has very low pressure and the spray heads are not popping up completely, this could mean that there is a leak.  The leak is robbing the pressure to needed to run the station properly.  When checking stations such as flower beds, it is important to check the shrub risers against the house to make sure that the risers are not misadjusted and spraying water onto the wall or window frames.

Look for long-lasting damp spots in the landscape as these might indicate a leak or broken line that will require Plano sprinkler repair.  Quite often it seems as though there are more leaks in the fall; however, this is simply due to the fact that less water is being evaporated than in the summertime when small or slow leaks can go undetected.  There are literally hundreds of connections on a lawn sprinkler system that can spring a leak at anytime.  Keep in mind that there are irrigation supply lines running throughout the yard, typically in the front yard and back yard.  These lines can leak even with the controller turned off.  A main line leak can usually be found by walking around the house and looking for any soggy spots. 

“Winterize” the sprinkler system.  For the most part, overnight freezing is typically followed by above freezing daytime temperatures.  However, the North Texas area still needs to be irrigated during the winter months due to drying wind and daytime temperatures.  In our service area, we generally do not winterize sprinkler systems by draining the pipes in the winter, as the soil insulates them enough to prevent the water from freezing.  If there is any aboveground equipment, it will need to be insulated to prevent freezing during the cold nights. 

Install a rain and freeze sensor, if the system does not already have one.  When the rain and freeze sensor becomes too wet (raining), it will not allow the sprinkler system to water, saving water and money.  When the sensor becomes too cold (37ºF and below), it will not allow the sprinkler system to water, saving possible injuries and eliminating icy situations on roads and sidewalks.  If the sprinkler system is already equipped with a rain and freeze sensor, check to make sure that it is still working.  It is easy for the sensor to become clogged with cobwebs and debris, which should be removed.  To check to see if the sensor is functioning, spray it with water and then look at the sprinkler system controller.  If the controller indicates that it will not water (usually a red light), then the sensor is functioning.  Many cities have rain and freeze sensor rebate programs when installing a sensor on an existing system.  Also, many cities require that rain and freeze sensors are installed on new sprinkler systems as well as when controllers are replaced on existing sprinkler systems.

Author Bio:  Pearson Sprinkler Co - We specialize in services for irrigation and Plano sprinkler repair. Outdoor landscape lighting and all outdoor drainage issues as well. Also serving other North Dallas cities and surrounding areas. We can help you with your routine fall sprinkler system maintenance.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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