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A lush, green lawn is often the pride of a homeowner in Lakeway. But maintaining that emerald expanse requires more than just hoping for rain. Your sprinkler system in Lakeway is the unsung hero of your landscape, working silently underground to keep your grass and plants hydrated. When it fails, you notice it quickly—usually in the form of brown patches, soggy marshes, or a surprisingly high water bill.
Keeping your irrigation system running smoothly isn’t just about curb appeal; it’s about water conservation and protecting your investment. Unfortunately, mechanical systems wear down over time. Understanding the signs of trouble can help you catch small problems before they become expensive repairs.
Here are four common sprinkler issues that plague Lakeway homeowners and what they mean for your lawn.
Your sprinkler system relies on a series of valves to control water flow to different zones. Think of them as the traffic lights of your irrigation system. When they work, traffic flows smoothly. When they get stuck, chaos ensues.
A valve can get stuck in two positions: open or closed. If a valve is stuck open, water continues to weep or flow freely even after the cycle should have ended. This leads to massive water waste, soggy soil, and root rot. Conversely, a valve stuck closed means a specific zone of your yard gets zero water, quickly turning vibrant grass into straw.
For optimal coverage, your sprinkler heads need to be at just the right height. However, soil shifts, grass grows thatch layers, and foot traffic can push heads deeper into the ground.
Watch your system run. If you see water bubbling up around the base of a head instead of spraying outward, it’s likely too low. If you find yourself constantly kicking a sprinkler head while walking across the lawn, it needs to be lowered. Proper adjustment ensures the water arc clears the grass blades and reaches its intended target.
Short cycling occurs when your sprinkler system turns on and off rapidly in short bursts rather than running for a full, consistent cycle.
This is a major efficiency killer. Your lawn needs deep, infrequent watering to encourage roots to grow deep into the soil. Short cycling wets only the surface level. The water evaporates quickly in the Texas heat before it can nourish the roots. This trains your grass to keep shallow roots, making it less drought-tolerant and more susceptible to disease.
Listen to your controller or pump. If you hear rapid clicking or the sound of the pump engaging and disengaging repeatedly within a few seconds or minutes, you are experiencing short cycling. This is often caused by electrical issues, pump problems, or bad pressure settings.
Sprinkler nozzles are small, but they control the precise pattern and volume of water. Over time, they can loosen due to water pressure or get knocked off by lawn equipment.
A missing nozzle turns a precision instrument into a garden hose running at full blast. This releases a massive volume of water in one concentrated spot. Not only does this waste hundreds of gallons of water very quickly, but the high pressure can also erode the soil around the head and damage nearby plants. Meanwhile, the rest of the zone loses pressure, meaning other heads won’t pop up or spray correctly.
This one is hard to miss. When the zone turns on, look for a geyser shooting straight up into the air. You will also likely notice a significant drop in water pressure for all other sprinkler heads in that same zone.
Ignoring these problems rarely makes them go away. In fact, a small leak or a stuck valve can compound into significant landscape damage and costly water waste. Your lawn is a living investment, and a well-functioning sprinkler system is its best insurance policy.
If you are noticing wet spots, dry patches, or geysers in your yard, it’s time to call in the experts. Professional repair ensures the root cause is addressed, not just the symptom.
Ready to get your system back in peak condition? Contact a professional for sprinkler repair in Lakeway today and ensure your lawn stays green and efficient all year long.