7 Signs Your Sprinkler System Needs Repair

Sprinkler systems break. It's not a matter of if, it's when. PVC gets brittle in our North Texas heat cycles. Heads get hit by mowers. Valves wear out. Here's how to spot problems before they turn into expensive repairs or a dead lawn.

1. Brown Patches in an Otherwise Green Lawn

If you've got one section of the yard that's brown while everything else is green, a head probably isn't firing in that zone. Could be a clogged nozzle, a head that's stuck down, or a broken riser. Run each zone manually and watch for heads that don't pop up or spray in the wrong direction.

2. A Soggy Spot That Never Dries

This usually means a cracked pipe or a leaking valve. Underground leaks push water to the surface and create a perpetually wet area. If the soggy spot is between sprinkler heads (not directly at a head), you've probably got a pipe issue. If it's at the valve box location, the valve diaphragm likely needs replacing.

3. Your Water Bill Spiked

A sudden jump in your water bill without any change in watering schedule almost always points to a leak. Even a small crack in a PVC line can waste thousands of gallons per month. We've seen water bills go from $100 to $400 because of a single cracked fitting that the homeowner didn't notice for weeks.

4. Low Pressure on One or More Zones

If a zone that used to spray 15 feet is now barely reaching 8, something is wrong. Common causes: a partially open valve, a cracked pipe bleeding off pressure, or too many heads on one zone (usually after a home addition or landscape change). Could also be a failing pressure regulator at the backflow preventer.

5. Heads That Don't Retract

Sprinkler heads that stay up after the zone turns off get hit by mowers, tripped on, and broken. This is usually dirt or debris in the head mechanism. Sometimes the spring inside the head is worn out. Pop-up heads are cheap ($5 to $15) and easy to replace.

6. Geysers or Flooding When the System Runs

A head that shoots water straight up like a geyser has a broken or missing nozzle. Water pooling around a head means the riser or head body is cracked. Both are quick fixes if you catch them. Left alone, the flooding erodes soil and can undermine walkways or foundations.

7. The Controller Displays Errors or Won't Run

Modern controllers display error codes or blinking lights when something's wrong. A zone that shows "fault" usually has a wiring problem or a shorted solenoid. If the whole controller is unresponsive, check for a blown fuse or tripped GFCI outlet. Controllers with battery backup sometimes lose their programming during extended power outages.

Most of these repairs are straightforward and cost under $200. The expensive repairs happen when small problems get ignored. A leaking valve becomes a flooded valve box becomes a corroded wire connection becomes a complete zone rewire. Fix things when they're small.