What is an Irrigation Inspection?

irrigation-inspection

Since the weather in Florida is so hot, many people have irrigation systems to keep their yards green and healthy. However, because of the year-long great weather, this means that irrigation systems are working year round, which can take a toll on the system. 

It is important to get an irrigation inspection before purchasing a home to make sure that it is still in good condition and your yard will stay lush and healthy year-round! 

What is an Irrigation Inspection? 

An irrigation inspection is a full inspection of a home’s sprinkler system and the components that make it up. Since the majority of a sprinkler system is located underground, your inspector will not be digging up the yard to look at the underground components. However, they can tell a lot by doing an in-depth visual analysis of the system and above-ground materials.  

During the inspection, your inspector will assess the following: 

  • Sprinkler heads, rotors, bubbler & nozzle conditions
  • Pumps
  • Backflow preventers
  • Sensors
  • Drains
  • Controllers
  • Pressure differentials
  • The location of sprinkler heads
  • Valves, manifolds & visible connections

Signs of Irrigation Issues

If you aren’t sure if your irrigation system is working properly, there are some things that you can look at and determine that you might need an inspection. 

  • Sprinkler heads that aren’t working properly
  • Low and inconsistent water pressure during sprinkler cycles 
  • Certain zones aren’t turning on (resulting in large dry patches in the yard while others are green and growing) 
  • Leaks and pooling water in a sprinkler zone 
  • If the sprinkler head furthest away from the valve is leaking

All of these issues are tell-tale signs that you might need to get your sprinkler system looked at by a professional irrigation inspector.

Why is an Irrigation System Inspection Important? 

Getting your sprinkler system inspected is important to maintain your yard’s health, and it is recommended that you have the system inspected once every year to ensure quality. 

In addition, if your irrigation system has small issues, you might not notice them right away. However, over time the issue will worsen and can be costly to fix. Water leaks can also cause grading issues to your home, with water pooling around the foundation and eventually allowing it to shift – which is difficult to repair and very expensive. 

Dry lawns and vegetation are also concerns for fire hazards, so you’ll want to make sure that your irrigation system is watering appropriately to keep your home safe from fire outbreaks. 

Finally, if your sprinkler system isn’t working properly, you can be spending a lot more money on water bills that you need to, because the leaking water is using up more water than a sprinkler system that doesn’t leak! Getting an irrigation inspection can save you money on your bills, and prevent a costly and time consuming repair job should it burst.