Keeping up with regular sprinkler system maintenance throughout the summer will help your sprinklers continue to perform efficiently and effectively for summers to come. A well-functioning system wastes less water and does a better job at protecting your landscaping investment, whereas a poorly maintained system is more likely to spring leaks, cause uneven water distribution, or harm plants by overwatering. Here are some tips for how to keep your system performing at its best.

Run each zone of your system for a short time and conduct a visual inspection that confirms the following:

Grass and plants are trimmed below the tops of the sprinkler heads to prevent blockage
There are no signs of leakage from sprinkler heads or piping
Sprinkler heads are adjusted to follow accurate spray patterns
Each zone of the lawn is receiving appropriate water coverage
Automatic timing is set correctly so that puddles and runoff do not occur
Water pressure is sufficient to achieve necessary coverage, neither too low nor too high

If there are visible issues with water pressure or irrigation accuracy, one of the following issues may be at fault:

Clogged sprinkler heads. Sprinkler heads and nozzles can easily become clogged by dirt, leaves, and other materials from your landscaping. Clear them out and test them again to make sure they’re achieving sufficient coverage.
Broken sprinkler heads or pipes. In the event of leakages, broken nozzles or heads can easily be replaced using parts from your local home improvement store.
Water duration. If puddles and runoff are forming when you run your system, you are probably running your sprinklers for too long. Adjust the timer settings on your automatic sprinkler system.
Sometimes sprinkler heads become misaligned, spraying water at sections of the driveway or the road, or under-watering certain sections of lawn. It’s a simple matter to readjust them using a sprinkler head adjustment tool. You may need to make ongoing adjustments to account for variable heat and rainfall levels throughout the summer.
Water pressure. Issues with water pressure will most likely need to be resolved by a plumbing professional who has the specialized knowledge and equipment necessary to diagnose and correct the underlying problem.

If you think it might be time for an entire sprinkler system upgrade, get in touch with a Bonfe representative to schedule a consultation and discuss your options.