Your irrigation system is among the most important aspects of your landscaping, especially in the Tampa Bay area where the climate can be extremely challenging. Your plants need nutrients and hydration to thrive, and your irrigation system is integral in delivering those essential elements where they’re needed most.
Whether you have a smart irrigation system or are using a more traditional system until you can upgrade, maintaining your sprinkler system is key to maintaining efficiency, saving money, and keeping your curb appeal at its full potential no matter what the weather throws at you.
Irrigation testing can be the difference between your system operating smoothly and major (and expensive) problems developing right below the surface.
A properly designed, installed, and maintained irrigation system can completely transform your Tampa Bay property. Your landscaping requires precision watering to flourish. Too much water will drown certain plants, while a lack of hydration will also lead to poor plant health.
Not only do unhealthy plants look bad and lessen the curb appeal of your property, but they can also cause your landscaping bill to skyrocket. Nursing plants back to health–or worse, replacing them–can be very expensive.
Water waste is another factor to consider when considering irrigation maintenance. A poorly-tuned sprinkler system is inefficient, leading to varying degrees of water waste. This is a bad practice from a conversationist viewpoint, and it also is a severe drain on your budget.
Finally, neglecting your irrigation inspection can allow issues to develop in the system itself. From small leaks that turn into major issues to clogged heads and broken pipes, the potential problems are many, and all of them can be catastrophic if left unchecked. Not only can these issues be devastating to your landscape, but they can also be extraordinarily costly to repair.
There are two ways to determine when you should schedule an irrigation inspection. Ideally, you simply need to have routine sprinkler system check-ups based on the season and time passed since your last inspection, but there are certain signs that indicate you may need a more immediate check-up.
Annual or twice-yearly irrigation testing is recommended to ensure that your system is functioning efficiently and no underlying issues are developing. These irrigation inspections help maximize the positive impact of your sprinklers while catching potential problems before they become serious.
The best times to schedule your sprinkler system check-ups are spring and fall. The reasoning is pretty straightforward.
In the spring, you are preparing to use your irrigation system consistently for the remainder of the year. Ensuring that your system is dialed in and any potential problems are corrected ahead of time is key to maximizing efficiency and limiting issues.
Fall is the opposite of spring. You should be winding down your sprinkler system usage, and a fall irrigation inspection helps prepare your system for a more dormant winter season. This protects it against potentially freezing temperatures, inactivity, and so on.
While your regular sprinkler system checks should be enough to keep your system running smoothly, there are certain things to look out for, as they can indicate that you need a more immediate professional irrigation inspection.
If you notice abnormalities in your lawn–such as standing water or dry patches–your irrigation system could be the culprit. Other signs to look for are sudden changes in your water bill, low water pressure, visibly broken or malfunctioning sprinkler heads, and incorrect operational times.
Even if you don’t notice any of these telltale signs that your irrigation system needs help, it is always best to reach out to your local sprinkler system expert when you suspect something may be wrong. A neglected sprinkler system is more prone to serious issues, so act preemptively to save yourself the future trouble.
Investing in irrigation maintenance is a must if you want to avoid potentially costly problems and keep your Tampa Bay area property both beautiful and healthy. However, not all irrigation inspections are equal, and you want to make sure that the professional you work with covers all of the essential elements of your system.
Even if most aspects of the sprinkler system check-up are performed properly, missing a single key part of the inspection could spell disaster. To help you avoid this unfortunate outcome, here’s everything a professional irrigation inspection should include:
If any issues are found, your irrigation expert should work with you to determine the right course of action that is best for your property and your budget. If your system is functioning flawlessly, that’s great news–you can move on to discussing any potential upgrades you might want and schedule your next sprinkler system check-up.
Florida’s unique climate puts a high degree of stress on your landscaping, and a properly maintained irrigation system can help alleviate some of that burden. Whether you’re a residential property trying to save water and prioritize plant health or a commercial landscape attempting to boost curb appeal and lower costs, regular irrigation testing is essential.
Landcrafters has been providing property owners in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg with irrigation expertise for over 25 years, and we’d love to do the same for you. To learn more about our irrigation services, feel free to reach out to us or use the contact form below!