If you have an irrigation system, you want to make sure it’s as efficient as possible. But if you have a leak in your system, this means not only is it working efficiently but it could be costing you a lot of money. Below are 4 indications that you have a leak in your irrigation system.
You’re Seeing Wet Spots
Spots in your yard that you’ve noticed are constantly soggy and wet or which feel boggy underfoot means that your site drainage or irrigation system has a problem. First, you should rule out issues with surface water draining. Check and see if the wet spot’s lower than your surrounding lawn. You should also look and see if it’s wet even when your irrigation system’s not being used. If it isn’t, you should suspect that your system’s leaking close to those wet spots.
Physical Damage & Water Flow
You want to physically inspect your system’s accessible parts. The exposed pipes and sprinkler heads are the things that often will be damaged. Inspect the areas carefully where you’ve noticed animals feeding or burrowing and any lawn sections where heavy equipment or a vehicle has driven over it. Being certain that your nozzles aren’t buried or clogged will let you rule out repairs that are fairly quick, low cost and simple before you dig up parts of your irrigation system.
Turn on your system and watch the water flow from your sprinklers. If there is lower water pressure in a particular area or there isn’t overlapping sprinkler coverage, you should suspect that you have a clog or a leak prior to the section with low pressure. Turning your system on and watching the area closely where you suspect that you have a leak often will be all that you’ll need to look at. Gurgling, hissing or bubbling will indicate that you have a leak. Putting a flag, rock or stake over the spot will help you to remember where it is.
Dying Lawn
It’s a good idea to look at your lawn. This may be what shows that some of the sections of it might show that some parts aren’t getting enough or getting too much water. Constant, excessive water around the roots of a plant will kill the tissue of the roots, and it will leave your grass unable to take up the water and nutrients and requires as well as exchange gases. This means that it’s going to be more vulnerable to being invaded by fungus. The grass is going to be less vigorous and it’s going to have blade wilt. You also may be noticing that there are dead patches. Brown, dry grass sections might be declining since it’s possible they’re not getting enough water due to lower water pressure within that irrigation system section.
Read Your Meter
If you have a minor leak and you have good soil drainage, the first thing that might tell you that your irrigation system’s leaking is a higher water bill. Look at your water meter. If you have a meter that’s constantly spinning or you have an activated leak indicator, check out your other possible sources of leaks such as your faucets, washing machine, and toilets. Once they are ruled out, there’s a good chance that it’s your irrigation system. You should also check out valve or meter boxes in your lawn. If they’re full of water and it’s not due to runoff from surface water, there’s a good chance it’s a leak.
So that you can have the best irrigation system possible, you want to make sure that you are checking for these possible indications of a leak. It will help you save money and have a nicer looking lawn.
