A Guide to Irrigation Maintenance for Florida Homeowners
There’s nothing like that reassuring whoosh of your irrigation system dependably chugging away, watering your lawn and plants.
You sort of assume it’ll always be there, just like there’s always a bag of chips in the cupboard when you get the munchies.
Then, one fateful night during your Netflix binge…no chips. NO CHIPS!
Wait, does that mean your sprinkler system might be in trouble, too?
Could be, if you haven’t been keeping up with its maintenance.
When you add chips to the grocery list, take a look at your irrigation checklist — is it time for a maintenance checkup?
Your irrigation system should be on a regular maintenance program, inspected by irrigation pros either once a month or once every two months. You don’t want your irrigation system suddenly failing during the hottest, driest week of the year. Your landscaping’s health is on the line.
What exactly does irrigation system maintenance include?
Keep reading for an irrigation checklist, including:
Your irrigation checklist, in a nutshell
Checking your controller
Inspecting sprinkler heads
Other items on the irrigation checklist
Stuff happens out there
Budget for maintenance
About that quote…
Your Irrigation Checklist, in a Nutshell
When you hire a company for regular irrigation system maintenance, they’ll manually test your entire system and do a walk through to make sure everything’s working properly.
They’ll see if any parts need to be replaced, test each watering zone, and check your timers and sensors to ensure everything is working correctly.
If they find any issues, they should be able to fix little problems on the spot, but if the issues are more complex and require additional parts, they'll likely discuss your options and leave you with a quote.
Checking Your Controller
When you get an irrigation system installed, your irrigation pros will set it to perfectly water your lawn and landscaping, based on your property’s needs, the time of year, and whatever county water restrictions are in place at the time.
Cool. All set, right?
Not exactly.
Here in Sarasota, the weather can be wacky.
Systems need adjusting 6-8 times a year, allowing for rainy periods and finicky temperature changes. Sometimes, that means three times in one month.
Checking Your Sprinkler Heads
Your sprinkler heads go through a lot out there. They can get knocked out of whack by mowers or heavy foot traffic, clogged by debris, stepped on by dogs with very large paws.
Irrigation pros will check each one. Are sprinkler heads hitting all areas of your lawn? Are they spraying areas they shouldn’t, like your sidewalks, the side of your house, your mother-in-law walking up the driveway?
They’ll make sure sprinkler heads aren’t blocked by tall grass, plants, or other obstacles.
Are any heads leaking or broken? Are any spots too wet or too dry? They’ll clean or replace any clogged nozzles.
Other Items on the Irrigation Checklist
- Are all valves working correctly?
- Any signs of leaks?
- Are each of your irrigation zones working as they should? They’ll pinpoint any spots that aren't getting enough water and make any adjustments to your watering zones to ensure everything is completely covered.
- A check of your timers and sensors will ensure your system turns on and off when it's supposed to and that any rain sensors installed will shut off your system when prompted.
Stuff Happens Out There
That sounds kind of ominous, like aliens are lurking in your lorapetalum.
No need to panic. We’re talking about nozzles that wear out, valves that are stuck open or closed, lines that spring a leak.
When our irrigation technicians discover these routine needs during irrigation system
maintenance, they don’t bug you about it. They just go ahead and repair them, as long as the repair costs less than $1,000.
That’s easier — and cheaper — than scheduling another service visit to take care of the repair.
Set Aside Some Bucks for Maintenance
If you’re in charge of a sprawling property with thousands of irrigation spray heads, be realistic about how much you’ll spend on irrigation system maintenance in a year.
It won’t be $3,000. More like $13,000.
Nobody likes being caught by budget surprise, so we’re happy to help you set a reasonable budget for your irrigation system’s needs.
About That Quote…
Customers love to call us asking for an irrigation repair quote over the phone.
We wish we were psychic, but there’s no way we know how much your problem will cost to fix until we come take a look.
All this irrigation stuff happens underground. There might be a tree root causing a problem close to the surface, or three feet underground.
It might be an easy fix, or something more serious. Once we have a handle on the situation, we’ll happily tell you how much it will cost to repair.
Need Sarasota Irrigation System Maintenance? Talk to Us
Avoid a potato chip emergency by stashing an extra bag or two in the cupboard.
Avoid an irrigation emergency by getting on board with a regular irrigation system maintenance program that keeps expert eyes on your irrigation throughout the year.
Regular irrigation system inspections means worry-free peace of mind for you. You’ll know irrigation pros are keeping an eye on things, noticing small signs of potential problems before your precious landscaping suffers.
It’s a crucial part of year-round landscape maintenance.
Give us a call or fill out our form today! There’s a lot going out there. Let our skilled, attentive crews handle it. You rest easy. Pass the chips.
