4 Common Irving Sprinkler Issues & How to Fix Them
A lush, green lawn is the pride of any homeowner, but a faulty sprinkler system can quickly turn that dream into a patchy, brown reality. Your irrigation system works hard behind the scenes, yet even small problems can lead to wasted water, high utility bills, and an unhealthy landscape. Many homeowners in Irving notice sputtering heads or dry spots but aren’t sure where to begin troubleshooting. That’s where Irving Sprinkler Repair comes in—our team helps homeowners quickly diagnose and repair these common issues, restoring your lawn’s health and beauty.
This guide from Irving Sprinkler Repair will walk you through four of the most common sprinkler system issues we encounter. We’ll help you identify the signs of trouble, understand the underlying causes, and know when it’s best to call in a professional team like ours. Whether it’s mysterious electrical faults or inefficient water flow, Irving Sprinkler Repair has the expertise to get your system running smoothly again.
1. Disconnected or Damaged Wires
Your sprinkler system relies on a series of electrical signals to function correctly. The controller sends a low-voltage current to each zone’s valve, telling it when to open and close. When the wiring that carries these signals becomes loose, frayed, or completely disconnected, your system can behave erratically or stop working altogether.
How to Identify the Problem
- A specific zone won’t turn on: If one or two zones fail to activate while others work fine, the issue is often isolated to the wiring connected to that specific zone’s valve.
- The entire system is unresponsive: If none of the zones turn on, the problem could be with the main power supply to the controller or a break in a common wire that serves all valves.
- Intermittent operation: A zone that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t may have a loose connection that is affected by ground moisture or temperature changes.
Causes and Solutions
Wires can be damaged by routine yard work, such as digging or edging, or by burrowing pests. Corrosion at connection points is also a frequent culprit, especially in damp soil.
While a handy homeowner might be able to spot and fix a simple loose wire at the controller, tracing a break underground is a complex task. Professionals use specialized tools like multimeter and wire trackers to locate faults quickly without having to dig up your entire yard. At Irving Sprinkler Repair, we can precisely pinpoint the break and make a durable, waterproof splice to restore reliable operation.
2. Air in the Lines
Have you ever turned on your sprinklers and heard a loud sputtering sound, followed by heads that spit and cough before finally spraying? This is a classic sign of air trapped in the irrigation lines. While it may seem like a minor annoyance, air pockets can cause significant problems for your system’s health and efficiency.
How to Identify the Problem
- Sputtering or “spitting” sprinkler heads: This is the most obvious symptom. The water flow is uneven and forceful bursts of air and water are expelled.
- Delayed start: Sprinkler heads may take a long time to pop up and start spraying as the system struggles to push the trapped air out.
- Noisy operation: You might hear gurgling or banging sounds coming from the pipes underground.
Causes and Solutions
Air typically enters the system through a leak on the mainline (the pipe that is always under pressure), a broken sprinkler head, or a faulty valve. It can also be introduced after a repair if the lines are not properly flushed. This trapped air leads to “water hammer,” a damaging pressure surge that can crack pipes and break fittings over time.
Resolving this issue involves locating the source of the air leak. A professional technician will inspect your system for leaks, check for damaged seals in your valves, and ensure all components are functioning correctly. After repairing the source of the problem, the system is thoroughly flushed to remove any remaining air, restoring smooth and quiet operation.
3. Improper System Design
Not all sprinkler systems are created equal. An improperly designed system is one of the most common—and frustrating—issues a homeowner can face. You might have one area of your lawn that turns into a swamp while another spot just a few feet away remains bone-dry. This indicates a fundamental flaw in how the system was laid out.
How to Identify the Problem
- Dry spots and wet spots: Uneven water distribution is the number one sign of poor design.
- Water spraying onto pavement or your house: Sprinklers should water your landscape, not your driveway, sidewalk, or foundation.
- Low water pressure across the system: Trying to run too many sprinkler heads on a single zone can lead to a drop in pressure, causing none of them to perform effectively.
Causes and Solutions
Poor design can stem from several factors. Perhaps the original installer didn’t account for varying water pressure, used the wrong spacing between heads, or failed to create separate zones for different plant types (e.g., lawn, flower beds, shrubs). Over time, a growing tree or a new patio can also render a once-effective design obsolete.
Correcting a design flaw is more involved than a simple repair. It often requires a professional assessment to re-evaluate your property’s needs. Solutions may involve:
- Moving or adding sprinkler heads for better overlap and coverage.
- Re-zoning the system to group areas with similar watering needs together.
- Upgrading to pressure-regulating heads to ensure even performance.
An expert can redesign your layout to maximize efficiency, conserve water, and give your entire landscape the precise amount of hydration it needs.
4. Incorrect Nozzle Type
The nozzle is the small but mighty part of the sprinkler head that shapes the water stream. Using the wrong nozzle type can be just as problematic as poor sprinkler placement. Different nozzles are designed for different tasks, and mismatching them leads to inefficiency and waste.
How to Identify the Problem
- Misting or fogging: If your sprinklers produce a fine mist that blows away in the wind, your system’s pressure is likely too high for the installed nozzles.
- Large, heavy droplets that create runoff: This can indicate nozzles that apply water faster than your soil can absorb it, which is common with clay soils in the Irving area.
- Uneven watering patterns from a single head: A clogged or incorrect nozzle may spray in a donut pattern or only water one side.
Causes and Solutions
Homeowners sometimes replace a broken head with whatever is available at the hardware store, not realizing it has a different nozzle with a different precipitation rate. It’s crucial that all heads within a single zone have “matched precipitation rates,” meaning they all apply water at the same rate, regardless of their spray pattern.
A professional can audit your system and identify mismatched nozzles. They can recommend and install the correct types for each specific area—whether it’s a rotary nozzle for a large lawn, a fixed spray nozzle for a small, curved flower bed, or a low-flow bubbler for a tree. This simple adjustment can dramatically improve your system’s performance and lower your water bills.
Take the Guesswork Out of Sprinkler Repairs
Your sprinkler system is a valuable asset that protects the investment you’ve made in your landscape. While some issues may seem minor, they can lead to bigger, more expensive problems if ignored.
If you’re dealing with sputtering heads, dry patches, or a system that just won’t cooperate, don’t hesitate to reach out. The team at Irving Sprinkler Repair has the expertise and tools to diagnose and resolve any issue, from complex electrical faults to complete system redesigns. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get your lawn back on the path to green perfection.