Home Sweet Home is presented by The Washington State Housing Finance Commission

Your lawn irrigation system is critical to maintaining a lush green landscape all summer. Sprinkler system failures can become costly issues if not found and fixed promptly. According to experts from Nautilus Plumbing and Hillsborough Irrigation & Landscape Services, the leading causes of sprinkler system malfunctions are easy to identify and fix. Other problems require a professional. Learn how to spot these issues and when to bring in an expert.

A broken irrigation line can result from an animal digging in the area or tree roots that have grown into the line. Another more surprising cause of system damage is compacted soil that applies consistent pressure to the line. Children playing in the yard can cause enough soil compaction to damage a line. Even a car regularly driving over the ground housing the lines can generate enough pressure to distort, crack and eventually break the pipes.

If you have no water or low water pressure in your system, there is likely a line break, especially if two sprinkler heads are not working. Test your theory by capping sprinkler heads in the non-working zone and looking for soggy soil. It’s a sure sign of a broken line.

A broken or damaged sprinkler line may be a DIY fix. Dig up the area around the PVC pipe, cut the pipe and replace it with a new piece.

Stuck, Broken, and Damaged Sprinkler Valves Small rocks and other yard debris can block the valve in the sprinkler head, which can prevent it from closing or even damage the valve. Shut off your system and carefully inspect your sprinkler heads to see if they are still delivering water. If not, that likely means the valve can’t close and is damaged or broken and needs to be replaced.

Winter weather can cause improperly drained irrigation systems to freeze, causing pipes to burst. Sometimes just the pressure from frozen soil can do the same thing. Occasionally, a burst pipe in the summer results from a natural disaster like an earthquake. Look for large puddles in your yard as a sign of a burst pipe or line.

As this is usually an extensive repair, it is often one of the times to call in the professionals. That’s why it’s critical to turn off the water and possibly use insulation in the winter.

As this is usually an extensive repair, it is often one of the times to call in the professionals. That’s why it’s critical to turn off the water and possibly use insulation in the winter.

A faulty valve, a broken pipe, or a problem with the sprinkler system pump can cause low water pressure in your system. Other possible causes include: 

Contact your local water company if you have checked all the other possible failure sources. If the pressure change is permanent, you may need to reconfigure your sprinkler system to adapt to the lower pressure.

Clogged sprinkler heads are one of the most common problems of underground sprinkler systems. Look for interrupted, uneven, or nonexistent water spray. Check for yard debris around your sprinkler heads that may be causing the problem. Clearing out the waste may easily and quickly solve the problem.

A lawn mower or edging tool can damage a sprinkler head. By design, a sprinkler head pops up when the system turns on and then retracts when it turns off. Sometimes the sprinkler head is too high above the ground, making it more vulnerable to damage from lawn tools. An easy fix is to lower the head deeper into the ground.

Loss of water through a damaged head can go on for a long time if undetected by a homeowner. And replacing a head is relatively simple. Unscrew the head, remove it, and screw in a replacement.

Electrical shortages can be another reason your irrigation system is not functioning correctly. Locating wiring issues underground can be especially difficult, according to the experts at Busy Bee Lawn Care. This is an ideal time to call an expert for evaluation and repair.

Costs to repair a damaged sprinkler system depend on the extent of the problem, the number and types of parts needed, and the difficulty of accessing the broken parts. The average cost to repair a sprinkler system is $257 based on hourly charges that range from $50 to $100 per hour. System-wide failure, however, can cost thousands. 

Here’s a breakdown of costs according to HomeAdvisor: 

If you are dealing with a simple problem like replacing a sprinkler head, you can save lots of money by doing it yourself. No prior experience? There are plenty of online tutorials that offer step-by-step instructions. 

If you have a more significant issue, it’s a good idea to contact a professional and get an estimate for repair. Having your system professionally maintained, drained, and winterized during your fall preparations can save money in the long run.

Home Sweet Home is brought to you by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s Washington Homeowner Assistance Fund. The Homeowners Assistance Fund helps homeowners who have fallen on hard times because of the pandemic. Call 1-877-894-4663 for more information on how they can help.

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