There are plenty of reasons to hire professional sprinkler system maintenance.
1. Do you know what the heck you’re doing out there?
2. Do you know what the heck you’re doing out there?
3. Do you know what the heck you’re doing out there?
You get the idea.
Here in Central Florida, our irrigation systems get a real workout, so things are going to occasionally go wrong.
Regular maintenance is important to catch problems before they become even bigger problems.
But DIY sprinkler system maintenance involves a lot of stuff.
Here’s a look at what the pros do — and what’s involved if you plan to tackle the tasks yourself.
Irrigation Techs Are Busy Out There
Irrigation technicians will look everything over and spot potential problems before your system breaks down and your grass dies.
What do they check? Lots of stuff:
Your Irrigation Controller
Is it plugged in firmly? Are the sensors and wires connected properly?
Technicians will check all the run times and update the watering schedule for the season. Is your system watering your landscaping too much or too little for the time of year?
If you haven’t already discovered this, irrigation controllers can be confusing. It’s why lots of homeowners just leave them set the same all year long, which is bad for your lawn and landscaping.
That alone is a good reason to hire professional sprinkler system maintenance.
Sprinkler Heads
Over time, hard-working heads can get clogged, hit by a lawnmower, or sink too low into the ground.
One or two might get misdirected, spraying water on your driveway instead of your lawn and landscaping.
An important part of maintenance is Inspecting each one to make sure they’re getting the job done.
Flush the Irrigation System
Your sprinkler system needs clear pipes and steady water pressure to do its job.
Technicians will turn on the water at the beginning of the season to flush any debris or dirt trapped in the lines.
A Two-Minute Sprinkler Test
Part of a maintenance inspection is running each zone in your system for a couple of minutes to make sure everything’s working well.
It’s one of the best reasons to hire an irrigation company, because there’s a lot of stuff to check.
Are any heads leaking or broken? Are any spots too wet or too dry? If so, they’ll adjust the watering time for those zones.
Is water hitting only where it should, and not over spraying on pavement or hitting buildings? Maybe a nozzle is too big, spraying 12 feet when it only needs to spray eight.
Are any nozzles clogged with debris? Does anything look like it needs repair?
Feeling handy? Want to give this DIY sprinkler maintenance a try?
Dust off your toolbox and keep these things in mind:
Some Repairs Are Trickier Than They Look
Busted sprinkler head? Just remove the head, and screw on a new one, right?
Well, be sure to replace it with the same type. You’ll need to know all the specifications, from how many gallons a minute it delivers to the spray pattern and throwing distance.
Is Your Garage Full of Sprinkler Parts?
We didn’t think so.
If you discover something’s wrong, get ready to spend much of your weekend trudging back and forth to the hardware store trying to figure out exactly what you need. Wouldn’t you rather be relaxing on the patio?
And, more bad news: not all hardware stores carry all the parts you need. Will the store clerks know what you need? Maybe. Maybe not.
A professional irrigation tech will show up with a truck full of parts.
Sprinkler System Damage is Sneaky
When you hire an irrigation company to do quarterly maintenance visits, they’ll show up regularly and discover anything that’s gone wrong.
How often will you get out there to check things over? Be honest about your ambition when it comes to DIY sprinkler system maintenance.
Meanwhile, maybe you mowed over a sprinkler head and didn’t realize it — and water has been pouring out of it. Maybe for months.
Regular visits also include adjustments that keep you from wasting water.
Technicians will adjust sprinkler heads that are spraying where they shouldn’t, or spraying out too much water.
What’s the Cost to Maintain a Sprinkler System?
Plan to spend about $85 a quarter to have your Central Florida irrigation system inspected by a professional irrigation technician.
They’ll look everything over and spot potential problems before your system breaks down and your grass dies.
Then, rest easy, and let your toolbox collect a bit more dust.
Trust Your Irrigation System Maintenance to Ground Source
Do you really want to add DIY sprinkler system maintenance to your homeowner to-do list? You have enough stuff to worry about, right?
When it comes to DIY sprinkler system maintenance vs. hiring a pro, you can’t go wrong with hiring Ground Source.
We’re irrigation experts in Central Florida, but our skills don’t stop there. We’re with you every step of the way as you plan your perfect outdoor space.
Irrigation, sod, landscape design: Let us transform your yard from an embarrassing eyesore to a place you spend every spare minute.
Are you ready to enjoy the vibrant, impressive yard you've always wanted? Request a quote today! We’ll help you review your options and then transform your property.
