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Tempe, Arizona has a desert-like climate, with hot summers and minimal rainfall. So, plenty of residents install irrigation systems to keep their plants healthy. Without them, you would have to struggle with monitoring your plants yourself. But what happens if your irrigation system breaks? 

We’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about fixing your sprinkler system. From signs of damage to common problems, here's how we handle sprinkler repair.

Common Types of Sprinkler Damage

The first step to knowing what’s wrong with your sprinkler system is knowing its parts. If you completed the irrigation installation yourself, you might already know this. If not, though, you should know some key sprinkler components:

• Pipes that run from the system to the main water source.
• A valve box that stays underground, and divides water to deliver it to different sprinkler zones.
• Zone valves that control how much water each sprinkler head will release.
• An electronic controller to set up the sprinkler system on an automatic schedule.

Now that we know these parts, we can understand what might go wrong with a sprinkler. Here are some of the most common irrigation damages:

• Low water pressure.
• Defective sprinkler heads.
• Unit not turning on.
• Unit not following controller instructions.
• Leaking valves.

Sprinkler heads tend to take the most damage because they’re exposed above ground. It’s easy for a dog to trample them over, or a mowing machine to knick the plastic. 

When those accidents happen, it can cause your sprinkler head to over or under-deliver water. If you have a pop-up sprinkler, the head may not pop up at all. Plus, each sprinkler head has a unique rotation reach, speed, and shape. So, you’ll usually need to find a specific model to replace them.

Leaking valves are also very common. If a rock gets inside the valves, it can stop them from closing. Then, no matter what you press on your controller, the water might not stop. So, sometimes what seems like a controller problem could be a valve problem. But don't worry, we can examine your irrigation system to determine the source of the problem for you.

Signs You Need Sprinkler Repair

It’s not always obvious that your irrigation system has damage. For example, you may notice that your water bill is getting more expensive, but don’t know why. Or, your plants are beginning to die, showing signs of over or under-watering.

If you have a high water bill, it could be a sign that your sprinkler system is leaking. This can happen because something punctured a wire or valve, like a rabbit or dog.

On the flip side, maybe your water bill is the same, but your plants are dying. That situation might happen if your system is shooting water inefficiently. A wonky sprinkler head can spill water where it’ll evaporate instead of seeping into your plant roots. Then, your water bill may look the same, but your garden doesn't anymore.

Finally, you should be extra careful with drip irrigation systems. These systems are fantastic in Tempe, AZ, because they deliver water directly to your plant roots. By doing that, there’s no chance of them evaporating on a hot summer’s day. 

However, it can be harder to miss damages in these since the water releases more slowly. So, look out for areas that look over and under-watered in your yard. You can also check through chords to make sure there are no holes making the water drip elsewhere. We can help with routine checkups to offer preventative care from these issues.

How Long Does Sprinkler Repair Take?

The time it takes to repair your irrigation system depends on how complex the damage is. For example, a single broken sprinkler head can take just 10 minutes to change. But if you have a complex system with many plants, it can take a day or more.

Issues with valves, wires, or electronic controllers typically take longer to repair than sprinkler head issues. 

You don’t have to guess how long or how much it’ll take for your irrigation. If you tell us about your sprinkler system, we can give you a good estimate of the time and costs to fix it. So you don't have to worry about taking time off work and let us do the hard work.

How To Test Your Sprinkler System For Damages

As we said, you can miss signs that your sprinkler needs repairing until your plant is starting to wither. You can avoid this with a few simple measures to check your sprinkler system’s condition. 

First, you want to make sure your electric control center works. You can set many up to automatically start and stop at pre-scheduled times. 

But, if there’s an issue like a faulty valve, it may take minutes longer to close a sprinkler head than another. Set up a timer to remind you to check the sprinkler when it’s supposed to close, and you can catch sneaky issues that may be causing overwatering.

Also, consider whether your rain and moisture sensors are working. Although it doesn’t rain much in Tempe, your sprinkler might only turn off when the sensor finds the soil moist enough.

But if that sensor breaks, it could be keeping your sprinkler running longer than necessary. So, you might want to note how moist the soil should be, and record if your sensor is letting it go above that measure.

Over time, or after a repair, sprinklers can build up the debris that gives it issues. These should be easy to take care of with weekly checkups. Make sure no dirt gets into sprinkler heads. Because sometimes, what looks like sprinkler damage is just a sign that it needs a clean-up.

We Provide Great Sprinkler Repair In Tempe, AZ

Here at Tempe Landscaping, we’re dedicated to giving your irrigation system the best technology available. We offer yearly maintenance to make sure your sprinkler system is working efficiently, and that you’re saving on your water bill. 

With our help, we can catch on to small issues for preventative care. But if something happens and your system needs help, we’re more than happy to give you quick, quality sprinkler repair.

Need sprinkler repairs near you? Fill out our form, and we’ll give you a free quote today!