What can a Lawn Irrigation Systems Audit Cover?
Know the tell-tale signs of when your lawn’s irrigation system is in need of an audit.
Can you believe August is right around the corner? I hope you are enjoying time by the pool, trips to the beach, and the company of family. With all that summer fun going on in your life, home projects and yard work tend to take a back seat. Your lawn and plants are not as forgiving as the dust accumulation on your landscaping tools. It is getting harder and harder to find time for setting sprinklers up and then remembering to turn them off. If you do not have a sprinkler system yet, keep checking back, I will be talking about the cost savings and benefits of a professionally designed and installed irrigation system in an upcoming post.
So, you had a sprinkler system installed 5-10 years ago. Every year you do your best to save a dime and turn the system on for yourself. Summer hits and you see spots in your yard that have started to brown, even with adjusting the watering time on specific zones. This can be extremely frustrating. Right off the bat, I would recommend having your system audited by a professional. An audit covers a complete inspection of each zone plus each sprinkler head and its coverage. Let us take a quick look at some of the things that can affect the efficiencies within the systems and the head coverage.
Trees and Shrubs: Both trees and shrubs can grow to interrupt spray patterns. There are two easy options to help resolve this issue. The tress/shrubs can either be trimmed back or the head can be relocated in order to allow for the proper spray pattern.
Landscape Change: Another very common issue that a professional can come across is changes in your landscape. As trees have grown, been trimmed/cut down and structures have been installed in your yard, the amount of water your landscape needs may change. Some simple solutions include adjusting the spray pattern of the heads or changing the output nozzle itself. This would encompass changing individual heads to a larger or smaller size in order to achieve better matched perception rate.
Loss of Water Pressure from Crushed Pipes: Systems are designed for decades of use, most polyethylene pipes are typically guaranteed for 50 years. That guarantee does not cover crushed pipes that are reducing water flow. The most common cause of a crushed pipe is root growth. Trees or shrubs that grow and have been installed too close to the underground pipes can create this issue. This is a serious issue with the system, so please inquire with us for more information on how to make a fix.
Loss of Water Pressure from Change in Supply: Another pressure issue is created when supply from water sources change. This includes less pressure from city water supplies or aging well pumps. There are solutions, but like the previous issue, please contact us so we can help you make a repair.
The above issues are not meant to scare anyone away. These repairs are actually very quick, simple and cost efficient to have done. For you do-it-yourselfers, do not be afraid to have the pros come in periodically, it could actually be a smart choice. In closing, if you have an underground irrigation system, there is no reason why you cannot have a green healthy landscape. You just may need our help getting there! So give us a call at 603.595.2802 or fill out a contact form for an irrigation system audit, installation quote, or with questions about any of our other landscaping services!