Watering your lawn and plants more frequently in the summer is necessary for their well-being and growth. But if your sprinkler is not functioning properly, your landscape may suffer until lawn irrigation repair technicians can attend to your job during what is typically a busy season. Performing lawn sprinkler maintenance ahead of time will ensure that your sprinkler system is ready for the summer, and if lawn sprinkler repair is required, you can get it done sooner rather than later.
A professional sprinkler system wet check from Greenstar Irrigation & Landscaping will help catch deficiencies in your irrigation systems before they become bigger and costlier problems. To schedule a diagnostic check or irrigation system repair in Miami-Dade County, please call us at 305-661-6958 or contact us online.
Lawn Sprinkler Maintenance Dos and Don’ts
Some lawn sprinkler maintenance tasks are easily done on your own by referring to your owner’s manual. Other more complicated maintenance tasks, including lawn sprinkler repair, should be performed by a professional lawn sprinkler system repair company. Here are the things to keep in mind when preparing your lawn sprinkler for the summer.
Dos of Lawn Sprinkler Maintenance
Essential lawn maintenance tasks include the following:
- Cleaning sprinkler heads: Like a bathroom shower head, a sprinkler head can get clogged with debris, leading to decreased water pressure. Clean sprinkler heads annually to ensure that water pressure remains consistent. If no water comes out of the sprinkler, you are likely dealing with a completely blocked shower head. It is best to call a lawn maintenance technician to clear the debris and restore your sprinkler to optimal performance.
- Check valves: Faulty valves can cause sprinkler leaks. Irregular water pressure and some wetter or drier areas of the lawn are telling signs of valve problems or leaks. Check the valves in the central valve assembly and each sprinkler head. Also check above-the-ground valves located behind the bushes or near the water source; alternatively, valve boxes may be installed underground. When in doubt, contact a lawn sprinkler repair company to check for signs of wear and disrepair in your sprinkler valves.
- Repair faulty pipes: Pipes will suffer wear and tear over time. If they aren’t in perfect shape, water flow throughout your lawn is bound to be affected. Refer to your owner’s manual for pipe repair and replacement. Most replacement parts will be available at local hardware/big box home improvement stores. You can also trust our experts for sprinkler system pipe repair and replacement.
- Test the voltage: Sprinkler valves are designed to work with AC voltage, within a range of 22 VAC to 28 VAC. In this range, all electrical parts such as the transformer, controller, solenoid, and wiring, are working ideally. Use a multimeter to take voltage reading and confirm the voltage is correct throughout your system. If you detect any issues, consult a lawn sprinkler repair specialist.
- Repair damaged valves: Damaged wires can affect the operation of sprinkler valves. Check for any wear and tear in wiring and have an irrigation professional replace damaged wires immediately.
Don’ts of Sprinkler Maintenance
During your spring sprinkler system maintenance check, avoid the following:
- Ignoring leaking sprinklers: A small leak can lead to overwatering in some places and under watering in others. Water wastage will be inevitable and higher water bills are possible too. When you spot a leak in the sprinkler, or drier or wetter areas, schedule a lawn sprinkler repair to correct any issues.
- Overlooking transformer: The sprinkler system’s transformer is an important electrical component that helps power the sprinkler timer. Test it using a multimeter to confirm whether it is operational or needs to be replaced. Also check whether the transformer is operating to schedule. If not, the controller may not be receiving sufficient power to make the system run on time.
- Ignoring detached wires: Detached wires can halt communication between the controller and valve. Check any loose wires and try to determine the reason for detachment, such as faulty parts or extreme weather. Reattach the wires by referring to the owner’s manual or contacting your sprinkler repair experts.
- Forgetting to replace the sprinkler solenoid: A common human error responsible for sprinkler system failure is removing the solenoid and forgetting to replace it at the end of testing. Solenoid replacement is a complicated task best left to professional irrigation technicians.
Schedule Lawn Sprinkler Repair From Our Experts In Miami-Dade County
With over 40 years of providing lawn sprinkler repair services throughout Miami-Dade County communities, Greenstar can prepare your sprinkler system for the summer and beyond. If you have been thinking of installing a smart irrigation controller for precise watering amounts and adaptability to modify watering schedules on your mobile device, we can assist. To book an irrigation system repair service call or learn more, please call us at 305-661-6958 or complete our online contact form.
