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OBSERVATION |
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SOLUTION |
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Sprinkler Selection & Layout |
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Are lawn
areas and landscape plants on separate zones? |
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If not,
relocate sprinklers. |
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Are
rotors and spray heads on separate zones? |
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If not,
relocate sprinklers. Piping or other changes may be
necessary. |
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Are lawn
and plant areas that require watering receiving it? |
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If not,
adjust spray pattern or replace with nozzle that has correct
spray pattern. |
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Are
pavement areas or plants that do not require
water receiving it? |
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If so,
replace or adjust nozzles to receive the appropriate arc
pattern or relocate sprinklers. |
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Are
spray patterns free from obstructions? |
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If not,
trim plants or relocate sprinklers. |
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Are
sprinklers covering at least 80 percent of the distance to
adjacent sprinklers? |
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If not,
relocate sprinklers to provide head-to-head coverage. |
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Are
sprinklers of similar make and model used in each zone? |
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If not,
match manufacturer and model within each zone. |
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Do all
rotors or spray heads within a zone have the same flow rate? |
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If not,
replace sprinklers or nozzles as needed to match. |
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Do
sprinklers rise up enough to provide adequate coverage? |
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If not,
replace short heads with taller ones of the same model or
add fittings to raise height. |
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Time
Clock Settings |
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Are
rotor zones set to run 45-60 minutes? |
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If not,
adjust as needed. |
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Are
spray zones set to run 15-20 minutes? |
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If not,
adjust as needed. |
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Is the
clock set to operate during allowable day(s) and times? |
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Know and
follow local watering restrictions. Adjust as needed. |
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Rain
Sensor Device |
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Is the
sensor blocked by plants or other objects? |
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If so,
move sensor or prune plants. |
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Is the
sensor wired into the clock properly? |
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If not,
follow manufacture’s wiring instructions. |
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Is the
sensor checked annually for proper operation? |
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Check
annually. See
Do It Yourself Rain Sensor Checkup. |
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Maintenance Issues |
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Are
sprinklers or pipes damaged? |
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If so,
repair or replace with similar model. |
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Are
sprinklers clogged? |
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If so,
clean nozzles, screens and filters by soaking and scrubbing
with a toothbrush. If many are clogged, zone flushing may be
necessary. Install filters or screens to minimize clogging. |
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Any
leaks? |
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If so,
check rubber seals for tears and debris. Clean or replace
with similar model. |
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Are
sprinklers leaning? |
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If so,
place upright. Stake to protect if this occurs often, or
consider moving the sprinkler. On slopes, heads should be
aligned perpendicular to the slope. |
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Is water
leaking from the lowest head when the zone is off? |
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If so,
install a check valve or replace sprinkler with one
containing a built-in check valve. |
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Landscape Appearance |
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Do lawn
and plants appear healthy? |
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Check
for other causes of problems first (damage, fertilizer
deficiency, etc.). If not, check plant’s water needs against
amount of water applied. |
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Are
there excessively dry or wet spots? |
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If so,
check sprinkler spacing and application rates. |
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Are
there visible holes in the ground? |
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If so,
check for leaks, fix, then fill holes. |
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Are
there any areas that are visibly eroded? |
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If so,
check for leaks, make repairs, fill area, and cover with
mulch, sod or groundcover plants. |
