Lawn Care Essentials: Maintaining Outdoor Sprinklers and Irrigation Systems

The common perception is that maintaining good-looking yard – specifically in Texas’ swings in weather – is only for experts. And while it does require some knowledge, it is much easier than people make it out to be. Besides picking the right type of sod and plants for your property (taking into account sunlight, temperature range, et cetera), a well-maintained outdoor sprinkler and irrigation system will do the heavy lifting for you. Here are the essentials you need to know to get started:

Types of sprinklers

There are a wide variety of sprinkler systems to choose for your property but they can be broken down into two main categories—above-ground and in-ground sprinklers.

Above-ground sprinklers:

●      Oscillating sprinklers

●      Stationary sprinklers

●      Traveling sprinklers

●      Rotating sprinklers

●      Impact sprinklers

In-ground sprinklers:

●      Fixed spray sprinklers

●      Multiple stream sprinklers

●      Gear-drive rotor sprinklers

You can buy a new above-ground sprinkler. When it comes to the in-ground options, long-term maintenance and care are required to ensure everything runs smoothly. So here’s some checklist items to maintain your sprinkler system.

Maintaining your sprinkler system

Clean your sprinkler system

Before you can check for anything, give your sprinkler system a thorough cleaning. Cleaning lets you clear out any potential blockage such as trapped debris.

Sprinkler filter systems and heads should be cleaned twice a year and should typically be scheduled for late spring and late fall.

Sprinkler filter cleaning steps:

●      Step 1: Grab the sprinkler tip and pull it up.

●      Step 2: Clamp a vice grip onto the sprinkler shaft to keep it from falling back down.

●      Step 3: Unscrew the top to remove the filter. Note: this step might require needle-tipped pliers or a paperclip.

●      Step 4: Swish the screen around in water to rinse it off.

●      Step 5: Scrub the filter with a toothbrush to remove any debris or sand.

●      Step 6: Re-install the filters once clean.

Sprinkler head cleaning steps:

 ●      Step 1: Detach the spray head by turning it clockwise and remove it from the sprinkler body.

●      Step 2: Place the spray head into a bucket of water.

●      Step 3: Pour rust remover over the spray head. This helps break down mineral buildup from the water supply.

●      Step 4: Soak the sprinkler head for 30 minutes.

●      Step 5: Scrub off any remaining buildup with a brush then rinse with water.

●      Step 6: Before reattaching the head, use a lubricant like WD-40 to grease all the moving parts to reduce future buildup.

Check for problems

With a clean sprinkler, you can now check for any problems in the system. For example, damaged sprinkler heads can cause visible issues like wild streams of water, no water flow while leaks can cause puddles in your driveway, soggy grass or eroding soil. Problems with your sprinkler system can add up to hundreds of dollars in water bills, cause water damage to your property, and not leave you with a good-looking lawn.

Preparing for winter months

There are two directions you can go in the winter in regards to your sprinkler system. The most common is to shorten the usage but still make sure it goes on every day so the water doesn’t stagnate.

But, if you are going to be traveling and are worried about freezing temperatures, you can winterize your sprinkler system to avoid havoc. Here’s what that looks like:

Turn off the water supply to your sprinkler system

This will help you conserve water as well as avoid your system pipes from freezing over during the winter months.

Drain the water from your system

This is typically done by a professional irrigation contractor. They’ll come out and drain the water from both the system and the sprinkler heads.

Insulate exposed components

Any exposed valves or pipes should be insulated.

Golden Home Management

While some people love getting home from work and heading out to do some weeding, that level of lawn care is not for everyone. Many of us just like to enjoy our yard in our down time rather than maintain it. If that sounds like you, we’re here to help. Golden Home Management helps with all the regular maintenance your home – and yard – need so that you can go about enjoying your home instead of working on it. Call us today to schedule your FREE home assessment so we can take care of all of the details your home needs.