When you have an irrigation system, it makes watering your Central Florida lawn and landscape a dream come true. Most set it and forget it. However, when your irrigation system springs a leak, you quickly enter a nightmare scenario. Suddenly, the convenience of watering your plants is no more, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Sometimes the leak is easily detectable, but this isn’t always the case. There are instances when the leak is hidden, which causes the repair job to become much more involved. While surface leaks are costly to repair, hidden leaks are even more so.
Get your feet wet by learning about irrigation system leaks!
Irrigation systems have several components and it’s important to understand how your system works. Furthermore, it’s essential to know what can causes the system to leak and how to identify hidden leaks.
Keep an eye on the parts you can see. Make it a habit to check each sprinkler head for cracks or broken pieces. The best time to do this is after mowing the lawn because this is when most exposed irrigation parts suffer damage. Cars and animals can also pose a threat to sprinkler heads. Should you see that one or more heads are broken, get them repaired promptly.
Part of your yard has become swamp creature habitat. If you see puddles forming or find yourself stepping in squishy sections of grass, this is a strong indication that you have an underground irrigation leak. This is especially true if a rainstorm hasn’t happened recently, but the problem area stays consistently wet even though it has had ample time to dry.
Your healthy green grass is now a sickly looking brown. When an underground leak is causing a portion of your lawn to stay wet, this will result in the grass developing root rot and fungal issues, which will kill the grass. Should you notice one or two browning patches that won’t dry out, it’s best to call an irrigation expert to check for hidden leaks.
The irrigation system’s water pressure is irregular. When your irrigation system is running, observe the different streams of water. If some appear stronger and traveling farther than others, you may have a hidden leak that is causing one or more irrigation heads to spray with less force. Should you see this, mark the suspect areas with a flag or rock, so you can show the irrigation tech where his or her attention needs to be focused.
Your water bill has spiked. If the amount of your water bill is suddenly higher than usual, you may have a hidden leak. Should this happen, contact the water company first. They will do a comprehensive check of your home’s water lines. If their search fails to find any leaks, you will need to call an irrigation expert to determine if the leak is originating from the irrigation lines.
Become a meter reader. It’s a good rule of thumb to check your water meter on a regular basis. If you find one day that it’s constantly spinning even though no faucets in your home are on, there may be a hidden irrigation leak lurking.
Be sure to check your irrigation system every so often to make sure it’s working properly. If you’re not sure your system is running like it should, call us or complete our request service form and we’ll be happy to take a look.
The cost to repair irrigation leaks leaves homeowners flooded with worry.
When your irrigation system is leaking above or below the turf, you’re wasting water and money by not repairing the problem immediately. If you delay fixing the leak, you’ll end up spending even more money replacing your once gorgeous lawn and landscaping plants. Plus, if you live in a homeowner’s association, you may incur monthly penalties until your lawn and landscaping is back up to par.
The following are irrigation system parts that can leak and the cost to repair or replace them.
- Sprinkler Head $55 to $130
- Sprinkler Valve $65 to $140
- Punctured Sprinkler Pipe $55 to $110
- Burst Sprinkler Pipe $150 to $350
If you’re in the unfortunate situation of owning a leaky irrigation system and don’t want to pay the repair costs, you can opt to have the system completely removed. If you decide to do this, you can expect to pay somewhere between $50 and $100 per hour. However, you can simply have the sprinkler heads removed and leave the old plumbing in the ground if it isn’t interfering with landscaping and lawn maintenance.
Having an irrigation system is a convenience homeowners and gardeners enjoy. Nevertheless, leaks can and will happen due to the age of the system and unforeseen mishaps. It’s just a matter of time before a leak occurs. When this happens, we are always happy to assess the situation, then provide a realistic estimate displaying all options for repair or replacement.
Remember, if you ever need assistance with sprinkler repair or irrigation in the Orlando area, make sure and give us a ring!