Lawn Sprinkler Maintenance

The advantage of a Sprinkling systems is that they save time and water and make your yard look great.

But this only works if they are functioning the way they should. A few things need to be checked and maintained if they are really going to save time and water and make your lawn look great.

What is your water output?

Too much water, doesn’t save water and too little water would not make your yard look especially good. Sprinklers needs to be adjusted to your yard. For this reason you have zones. In zones where there is more shade, for example, you won’t need as much water. On the other hand, certain flowering plants or bushes may need more water than grass.

If you live in an area where the seasonal temperatures and rainfall fluctuates, you might want your water output adjusted to the season. To make this easier, a rain sensor would prevent the sprinklers from going on when it rains.

Is your water running off the grass instead of soaking into the grass?

This happens if the grass is sloped or there is too much clay in the soil. If you have either of these conditions, set your sprinkler to cycle on and off every few minutes. Then, adjust the time based on how long it takes for the water to start to run off.

Are there broken or misdirected sprinkler heads?

If a sprinkler head is not sliding down when the sprinklers are turned off, it can be damaged by a lawn mower or inadvertently turned by kids playing in the yard. These problems waste water, while areas that need to be watered aren’t. Check periodically to make sure your sprinklers are functioning as they should. If they are not, they need to be fixed or replaced.

How is your water pressure?

If the water pressure is low, you may have one or more leaks in your system. Cross check it by a walk over where the pipes are located, are there any swampy places? A leak is likely. Conversely, if you find a swampy place, you might cross check that with your water pressure. However, if only one of these problems occur, there is concern. Consider calling a professional sprinkler technician to have a look.

What is the temperature outside?

Be sure to turn the system off if it happens to dip down to 32 degrees. A freeze sensor can help—it turns the system off for you. In temperate climates, where temperatures drop below freezing throughout the winter, your system needs to be winterized before the first freeze to prevent broken pipes and sprinkler heads. You will find more information about that in our article “What is Winterization?”

If you happen to live in Colorado and have questions or need assistance with watering your property, the Sprinkler Doctor can help. Here are a few ways you can reach us:

1. Call us at 303-800-7011. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
2. You can write us an email 24/7,
3. Or you can hit the Contact Us button right here on the website. Just click, scroll down and fill out the contact form.

You will be glad you did!