Vegas Landscaping: Common Problems With Irrigation Systems

It’s easy to forget about your Vegas landscaping irrigation system. This is due to the fact that they are often unseen, and when you do need them, the sprinklers are ready to provide your lawn with fresh new water. However, because most homeowners don’t really take the time to look at the vital components of their irrigation system, malfunctioning or broken components can quickly get out of hand. This can lead to having to call a landscape Las Vegas company to repair issues, and well, it’s not going to be a cheap project. The following includes further information on the most common problems with landscaping irrigation systems and how you can fix them.

Issues With Your Vegas Landscaping Irrigation Controller

Perhaps one of the most important components of your entire Vegas landscaping irrigation system is its controller. This component does many of the common functions needed to run an efficient irrigation system. These include activating/deactivating the system, amount of area, and water that is used to irrigate your lawn. As you may already be able to tell, this must be the first thing you should check when you sense or observe that something is wrong.

If the timing is off or water too long, the controller’s timer must be reset or corrected. If not enough water is being produced, you may want to call in a landscaping Las Vegas company as this can be a much more difficult situation to take care of on your own. It must be noted that the location of this controller all depends on your property as it can be placed both onto the home and within the Earth. You are going to be looking for a small or circular box that contains the components within it. If you are still unable to locate it, you may want to contact a landscaper Las Vegas company to come to render assistance.

Constant Loud Buzzing

If you are walking around your lawn and hear a buzzing sound nearby, that may be an indication that you have an issue with your sprinkler’s relay system. This is the part of your irrigation system (magnetic switch) that triggers the signal for everything to work. Unfortunately, in many cases, by the time you hear this buzzing, it’s going to be too late. At this moment, your irrigation system has stopped working completely. You may be able to disconnect the power and rest the system, but the best route to take is to bring in a Las Vegas landscape service company as electrical experience may be needed.

Water Pressure Is Suddenly Low

If you notice areas of your lawn suddenly dying out, you may have an issue with poor water pressure. Fortunately, the issue is often simple to solve. The first step is to take a walk around your entire law. If you have a detailed map of your irrigation system, this is the time to use it. You will need it because the most likely issue causing low water pressure is a blockage. Objects that could be cutting off pressure include fallen tree limbs, large rocks, and even yard equipment such as piles of soil.

Clogged Sprinkler Heads

Another common issue that you may run into are clogged sprinkler heads. This is especially prevalent after a strong wind or thunderstorm where your yard may have taken a beating. A clogged sprinkler head is often responsible for not allowing enough water to land upon your yard and may even cause further issues if the pressure is too high within the system. Thus it is highly recommended that you take care of this issue as soon as it is noticed.

So, how can you unclog your sprinkler heads? An easy method is to simply twist off the sprinkler head. After that, you will need to clean it off by dunking it into soapy water. Finally, you may need to use some good old elbow grease to remove any excess grime that has accumulated on the sprinkler head. Once everything is clean, rinse off the sprinkler head and screw it back onto its foundation.

Zones Are Being Skipped

Unless you are looking directly at it, skipped zones is one of the most common yet overlooked problems that you’ll face with an irrigation system. In many cases, the solution to the problem is simple. First, you will need to locate and open your controller. Then, look closely at all the wires attached to the valve section. If one is loose or hanging, you may have found the zone that needs attention. Firmly attach the wire back onto the valve, and this should do the trick. However, your work is not done yet.

The next step is to check the controller’s voltage. The controller has a multimeter, so you will need to switch it to the voltage option. You are going to be looking for a number between 24 and 28 volts. Anything lower than 24 means that there is not enough electricity going into the controller. Dealing with electricity is not recommended as it can be extremely dangerous. You will need to call in an irrigation service company to fix the issue for you.

Loud Chattering Noise

Commonly found after the initial installation of your irrigation system, loud chattering noise is usually due to the fact that your pump start relay system is too far away from your controller. Another thing that would cause the chattering noise is the size of the coil wire being used. Experts recommend that you switch out the wire sizes of 14 gauge for runs over 15 feet. Another possibility for the loud noise can be because of the controller’s transformer. In this case, the transformer may be too small and thus needs to be replaced with a much bigger one. As you can see from the information above, this particular problem is difficult to diagnose. Therefore, if you’ve tried all the remedies listed above, calling in the professionals may be your best bet to getting the issue fixed.