A sudden spike in your h2o bill is a archetype sign of water leaks in or effectually your dwelling. If you oasis't been using more water than usual lately, your first critical step is to locate the source of the leak.

Determining the Source of Your H2o Leak

  • Turn off the water supply to your home and bank check your h2o meter.
  • If the meter'due south needle continues to annals water use with the water turned off, and then you probably take a leak in your plumbing.
  • The next step is checking for signs of a leak in your indoor plumbing, but if there are none, the leak is probably somewhere in your sprinkler's irrigation system.

4 Steps to Take if Your Leak Source is the Sprinkler Irrigation Organisation

PRO TIP: To find the leak, information technology'southward a skilful idea to check your irrigation controller get-go, valves second, and sprinklers concluding. Apply brightly colored irrigation flags to mark areas you suspect may be leaking.

1. Check for Irrigation Controller Problems

  • Although irrigation controllers do not leak, they incorporate an electrical clock that controls your bound valves.
  • The clock triggers the release of water through sprinkler valves and keeps sprinkler valves open up for a predetermined time period.
  • Cheque the controller'due south programming to make sure it hasn't changed or returned to a default setting that increases water usage.
  • In some cases, irrigation controllers may proceed sprinkler systems running unnecessarily for hours, which tin significantly increase your water neb.

2. Check Your Sprinkler Valves

  • Valve boxes should be dry, not flooded.
  • Wet valve boxes may bespeak loose wiring, water leaking due to damaged fittings, or worn parts.

3. Leaky Sprinkler Stations Signs

Checking sprinkler stations requires the assistance of another person if you have a large irrigation system.How to find a leak in your Sprinkler System

One person needs to remain at the controller so they can turn individual stations off and on while the other person checks the sprinklers as they are turned on.

The "spotter" should await for these signs of leaks:

  • Flooding around the sprinkler'southward base may point malfunctioning valves that are non shutting off properly.
  • Water sprays/geysers usually indicate missing spray heads.
  • Water spraying between sprinkler heads could mean you have a cracked lateral line.
  • Water laying in the grass between sprinklers usually indicates a steady leak coming from an underground piping.
  • Water spurting from a sprinkler'due south base could mean that a seal is broken where the riser or nozzle connects to the hole-and-corner supply line.

4. Ensure Sprinkler Heads are Aligned

  • Although misaligned sprinkler heads are not technically a type of leak, cheque to meet if your sprinkler heads are spraying water exactly where you want them to spray.
  • If y'all own a business that is airtight on the weekends or if you're going to be away from your residence for more than a few days, always check your sprinkler heads before leaving.
  • Loose heads may all of a sudden deviate significantly off their mark if left unchecked for long periods of fourth dimension.

Sprinkler System Leak Detection Tools

Leak detection tools are available to assist yous locate a sprinkler arrangement leak, simply using them can be expensive, time-consuming, and they may non successfully find the leak. Tools include h2o leak microphones (sensory rods you wave over the basis that heighten the sounds of water gushing through pipes) and electrical acoustic kits. When hush-hush pipe leaks are large enough, y'all may hear water gushing even without a sensory rod.

Salve Time and Coin past Hiring a Professional

If DIY leak detection isn't your thing, go in touch with experienced plumbing and sprinkler technicians who accept in-depth knowledge and industry-specific tools to quickly find sprinkler leaks and repair them without dissentious your lawn. They can as well provide regular maintenance and inspections to ensure that your sprinkler system works properly and your backyard stays green, lush, and beautiful.

To get your sprinkler arrangement expertly maintained or repaired, call HEB Plumbing & Sprinkler today.