A well-designed irrigation system can help you reduce the amount of water your landscape wastes. Your irrigation system should allow for highly targeted distribution of water, so your plants thrive while keeping your water usage low. Unfortunately, a leaky irrigation system won’t do you much good. If your water bill suddenly spikes, you should probably check your irrigation system for leaks or have a professional landscaper take care of it for you.
Check your water meter.
Some houses have separate water meters for outdoor water usage. If you do, shut off your irrigation system. Then, open the box and look for the red or black dial. It might also be a triangle. If it’s still moving despite the irrigation system being off, then you’ve definitely got a leak.
Check the valves.
A leak can occur virtually anywhere in the irrigation system, but one of the most common places is at the valve heads. Turn off the water to your irrigation system and walk around checking each
irrigation head. Scrutinize each head to determine whether it’s still leaking a small amount of water. This can happen when the diaphragm or solenoid fails. It can also occur if debris is preventing the diaphragm from fully closing. A landscaping company may need to replace the valve for you.
Check the nearby curbs and sidewalk.
Fungi love to grow in moist areas. If you notice slimy fungi, mold, or mildew growing on your curbs or the sidewalk next to your property, then you probably have an irrigation system leak in that area. Another possibility is that you’re simply running your irrigation system too frequently and overwatering the land.
Check for signs of erosion.
If an irrigation head is broken, it will release significantly more water than it should. This can cause the ground around the irrigation head to erode. Look for signs of erosion around each head.
The professionals at Complete Landscaping have extensive experience working with irrigation systems. If you need a new irrigation system or have a problem with an existing one, give us a call at (520) 323-8918. We’re pleased to serve homeowners and commercial property owners throughout the Tucson area.