The Hessenauer Sprinkler Repair and Irrigation blog and website is here to provide our online readers with news, tips and advice concerning sprinkler irrigation. Sometimes homeowners may notice water puddles forming and runoff water as a direct result of slow leaks in the irrigation system. Today, we would like to discuss some ways to troubleshoot irrigation slow leaks and learn from where they originate.
Sometimes an irrigation leak may not be obvious to detect. Generally, we suggest to let sprinkler irrigation trained professionals handle any issues that may arise with your sprinkler system. These tips today are for informational purposes and general reference only.
One of the most common causes for slow leaks in an irrigation system is broken pipes. The break could either be in the main line which leads from the backflow prevention device to the individual zone control valves and supplies the system with continuous water pressure. Breaking this will cause continuous water flow whether the system is on or not. A main line leak needs to be shut off immediately at the main water source valve.
The other type of pipeline to check for breaks would be the lateral lines. These pipes feed individual zones of the sprinkler system that are under pressure only when the system is running. Lateral line breaks can be hard to locate as it only leaks when that particular zone or station of the system is active. No matter whether it is a small leak or a large break, it will eventually erode the soil and create a hole in the lawn. If you have a lateral line break, you can continue to operate the system by turning off the zone containing the break until the repair is made.
Leaking zone control valves can cause slow leaks in an irrigation system as well. Irrigation system valves are like faucets that turn water flow on and off. Just like a faucet, they can leak. Dirt and debris can cause seals to fail and make a valve leak, or the valve may leak because it is old and needs to be replaced. Dececting leaks from the valves is usually easier since they are visible, unlike underground leaks.
Low sprinkler head drainage could be another cause of slow leaks. This is caused by water siphoning out of the end of the lowest head in a zone once watering is complete. Once a zone completes the watering cycle, the remaining water tends to drain downhill and will flow until all of the water has been emptied out of the pipes. This really is not an issue for alarm, but if it becomes a problem, it can be corrected with adjustments to the irrigation system or installation of drain check valves.
We invite our readers to bookmark us and refer our blog and website to friends and family. If you have sprinkler irrigation issues here in the Central Florida or Orlando areas, contact us at 407-302-2227 today!