Your Annual Lawn Sprinkler System Maintenance

Maintaining your yard sprinkler system is crucial for water conservation, lawn health, and protecting your investment. This guide combines insights from Professor Guy Fipps of the Texas A&M Agriculture Extension Service with general irrigation best practices to help homeowners efficiently manage their irrigation systems.

Routine maintenance will save you money on water and on repairs. 

Getting started - for new homeowners

Understanding your sprinkler system basics

Your lawn sprinkler system typically consists of:

• Controller (the 'brain' of your system it tells zones when to turn on and for how long)
• Valves (control water flow to different zones)
• Pipes (underground network carrying water, and electricity to activate the valves)
• Sprinkler heads (deliver water to your lawn)

Types of sprinkler heads

• Spray heads: Circular or fan-shaped spray pattern, best for small, flat areas
• Rotors: Rotating lawn sprinkler that streams of water, ideal for larger lawns
• Bubblers: Low-flow heads that 'bubble' water out, perfect for trees and shrubs
• Drip irrigation: Slow, direct watering at the soil level, excellent for flower beds and gardens

You can’t put a Band-Aid on a broken bone, and sprinkler maintenance won’t help a bad irrigation system start irrigating well. 

Professor Fipps emphasizes, "Homeowners really should use a licensed irrigator” they’ll make sure you use the right zones for the right parts of your lawn. Highly efficient zones like drip zones can further enhance the efficiency of the system. A professional installation ensures you "get a good quality drip irrigation system, so the maintenance will be much easier."

Two parts of the install that will make maintenance far easier: 

• Proper filters: "Screen filters to keep debris that might be in the water lines from clogging your emitters," Fipps explains.
• Pressure gauges: "You need pressure gauges so you can check those and see if the system is operating at the correct pressure," Fipps notes.

Essential Sprinkler System Maintenance 

You'll be able to solve most sprinkler maintenance problems with one of the 3 following maintenance items. 

How to Run a Zone Test

Run a zone test every 3 months. Regular maintenance like this will help you find leaks before water waste costs you hundreds. 

A zone test will send water to every zone in your sprinkler system for 1-2 minutes:

1. Run a zone test or “quick run” some text
   • Every controller is different, but usually has a setting on the physical controller to run tests. 
2. Start with the first zone and turn it on manually.
3. Walk through the area covered by this zone, look for:some text
   • Proper coverage - is there enough overlap between heads? Is anything not getting watered?
   • Low Water Pressure - this is ususally quite easy to see - look for a head that's not performing like the others in the system.  
   • Damaged or clogged heads - look for heads that don’t pop up, or that spray weakly.
   • Leaks or unusual spray patterns - these can be harder to find - look for green areas in a lawn, or areas that are too wet.
4. Make necessary adjustments or note repairs needed.
5. Repeat for each zone in your system.

How to clean a sprinkler’s filter

Almost every sprinkler head will have a filter, even drip irrigation. It’s good to check these filter’s periodically for buildup, rocks or other debris that could hurt the system’s performance. This is a likely culprit when you have a clogged sprinkler head. 

Here’s how to perform this easy irrigation maintenance task:

1. Clean debris from around the sprinkler head
2. Unscrew the sprinkler head from the housing
3. Unscrew the valve from the sprinkler head
4. Remove the screen and rinse it 
5. Reinstall the screen to the head, and the head to the housing
6. Check for consistent water flow
7. Adjust flow rate if necessary

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is slightly different as the drip line typically shares one or two filters for the whole zone. Once you locate the filter, follow steps 3-5 above.

• How to Clean the Filter on Rain Bird Rotor Sprinklers

Professor Fipps notes that residential landscape irrigation is often easy to maintain if you’re regularly checking the filters. He explains, "Because city water is chlorinated... we don't have stuff growing in our water lines [like agricultural irrigation]."

How to repair a broken sprinkler head

The most common sprinkler repair to DIY is replacing a broken sprinkler head.

You'll need to perform this on your sprinkler system if your lawn care services hit the head with a weed whacker, or you run over one with you car.

1. Turn off the water supply to the zone with the broken head.
2. Dig around the broken head to expose it fully.
3. Unscrew the broken head from the riser or pipe.
4. Clean the threads on the riser or pipe.
5. Screw on the new head, ensuring it's the same type and has the same spray pattern as the old one.
6. Adjust the new head for proper coverage and alignment.
7. Turn the water back on and test the new head's performance.

When to call an irrigation specialist

You'll need an Irrigation specialist if you have a sprinkler repair that's beyond surface level. Here are the most common problems we see sprinkler system specialits called for:

1. Water Leak - this will cause low pressure in an entire line
2. Malfunctioning valve - if an entire zone doesn't come on, or stays on incorrectly, you'll likely need to repair a sprinkler valve
3. Repair or replace controller - controllers tell the sprinkler system how much water flow to send to your lawn. 

Seasonal Maintenance and Adjustments

Adapting your irrigation schedule to weather conditions is essential. As the City of Fort Worth advises, “Adjust your watering schedule based on weather conditions. For example, reduce or skip watering during rainy periods and in winter when plants require less water.”

Spring:

• Inspect system for winter damage
• Clean or replace clogged nozzles
• Adjust heads for proper coverage
• Check for any damage from frost heaving
• Test the system's water pressure
• Reprogram the controller for spring watering needs

Summer:

• Increase watering frequency
• Check for dry spots and adjust coverage
• Monitor for signs of overwatering
• Inspect for sun-damaged components
• Adjust watering times to account for hotter temperatures
• Consider adding mulch to retain soil moisture

Fall:

• Reduce watering frequency
• Prepare system for winter (in colder climates)
• Clean and store any above-ground components
• Adjust sprinkler heads to accommodate changes in plant growth
• Schedule a professional inspection if needed

Winter:

• Shut down and winterize system (if necessary)
• Plan for any major repairs or upgrades
• Drain all water from the system to prevent freezing
• Insulate above-ground pipes and backflow preventers
• Review and update your irrigation plan for the next season

Water Conservation Tips

More and more communities are adding guidelines to prevent water wastage. Luckily there's plenty of research being conducted to help you protect the environment and save money on your water bill. 

Check our guide on reducing your water usage for your lawn. 

Professor Fipps's work on the Water My Yard program aligns with this approach, using local weather data to provide precise watering recommendations based on evapotranspiration rates.

Useful Resources

Local water utility programs

Many cities now offer tools to help homeowners manage their water usage. Check your local utility district for rebate programs, free sprinkler audits, or water monitoring services you can take advantage of. 

For example, the city of Fort Worth provides an irrigation calculator and the MyH2O portal, allowing residents to "monitor your usage and make necessary adjustments."

Watering Apps

Wifi controlled smart apps - Rachio, Hunter, and Rainbird. These provide an easy way to program your controller for each season.

Scotts' my lawn - a free app offering personalized lawn care advice, including watering schedules, based on your location and grass type. It can help coordinate your lawn care with your sprinkler system maintenance for optimal results.

Water My Yard - The WaterMyYard program, discussed by Professor Fipps, "puts together standard science-based irrigation scheduling methodology" in a user-friendly package for homeowners. Local counties provide live PET data from monitoring stations in supported localities. Check your local extension service for similar programs in your region. 

Keep learning

EPA WaterSense website: www.epa.gov/watersense

Irrigation Association: www.irrigation.org

Local cooperative extension services

FAQ’s

Q: How often should I perform sprinkler maintenance on my irrigation system?

 A: Perform a basic visual inspection monthly. Do a more thorough check, including running a zone test, at the start of each season. Conduct a comprehensive system check annually, preferably in spring.

Q: What should I do if a sprinkler head is broken or damaged? 

A: First, shut off the water to that zone. Unscrew the damaged head and replace it with a new one of the same type and spray pattern. Make sure it's at the correct height and angle when installing.

Q: How do I know if my system has a leak? 

A: Signs of a leak include unexpectedly high water bills, wet spots in your yard between scheduled waterings, and areas of unusually lush grass growth. You might also notice a significant drop in water pressure.

Q: What maintenance does my irrigation controller need? 

A: Check your controller settings monthly to ensure they're appropriate for the season. Replace the backup battery annually. Keep the controller clean and free from dust and insects. If it's outdoors, make sure its protective case is secure.

Q: What should I do if a zone isn't turning on? 

A: First, check the controller to ensure the zone is programmed correctly. If it is, the issue might be with the valve. Check for debris in the valve or a loose solenoid (the electrical part of the valve). If you can't identify the problem, it may require professional diagnosis.

Conclusions

Sprinkler system maintenance doesn't have to be a chore. By following this comprehensive guide, you can ensure that your irrigation system operates efficiently, conserves water, and keeps your landscape healthy. Regular maintenance not only prolongs the life of your system but also helps you save money on water bills and avoid costly repairs. Remember, a well-maintained sprinkler system is key to a beautiful, sustainable landscape.