The purchase of a new sprinkler system represents a significant investment in your property. It is crucial that you do everything you can to protect that investment, which means engaging in some routine preventative maintenance of the system.
Here are a few sprinkler system maintenance tips in Fort Lauderdale, FL to help you keep your sprinkler system in good condition for years to come:
- Measure the rate of water delivery: Your lawn should receive at least an inch of water per week for best results. Most efficient sprinkler systems are capable of delivering an inch of water in about 15 minutes. To measure the speed with which your system accomplishes this, set out tuna cans in several watering zones. After 15 minutes, measure how much water is in each can.
- Watch for leaks or signs of damage: You should perform routine visual inspections to look for any broken lines or damaged or misdirected sprinkler heads. This type of damage can waste a lot of money, because it results in the water not going where you need it to go. Common signs of damaged lines or heads include uneven watering, especially if there is one zone with puddles and another zone that is fully dry.
- Repair or replace damaged and clogged heads: If your regular inspection reveals you have sprinkler heads that have been damaged or clogged up, take the necessary steps to repair or replace them as soon as possible.
- Adjust watering schedules as needed: You’ll want to adjust your watering schedule with the changing of the seasons, as different times of year are wetter than others. In addition, cooler weather results in your needing less water for your lawn than you do during the hottest parts of the summer, and the parts of your lawn that face north and are in the shade are not going to need the same amount of water as parts of your lawn that spend the entire day in the sun.
- Adjust as needed for topography: You may need to adjust your sprinkler timer if you know you have a lot of clay in your soil, or if your sprinkler is set on a slope. The best solution here is to have your system go off every seven minutes or so (adjust as needed) to determine if that is, in fact, the right amount of time to let it sit before the water starts to run off.
- Have a professional take a look: Once a year or so, it can be highly beneficial to have a professional come in and take a look at your sprinkler system. This should be someone who is certified in designing, installing and repairing sprinkler systems. They’ll be able to pinpoint any inefficiencies or potential vulnerabilities in your system so you can get the best operation possible out of your investment.
Interested in getting answers to some popular sprinkler system maintenance FAQs in Fort Lauderdale, FL? Contact Spillers Sprinklers Inc. today with any questions you have for our team. We look forward to assisting you soon.