4 Common Causes of Low Water Pressure in Your Denver Sprinkler System

When you turn your sprinkler system on, you expect to see a strong spray pattern. This is what helps you keep your yard properly hydrated and thriving even when the weather is overly hot. When the water pressure drops, your sprinklers won’t be able to adequately water your yard and your plants will suffer. If you’ve noticed that the spray from your sprinkler heads is weak, don’t panic. It’s likely an issue that your Denver sprinkler repair team can fix quickly. You still want to understand what causes the low water pressure. These are a few of the most common causes.

1. There’s a Leak in the Water Line
Your sprinkler system receives its water supply from your home’s main water line. When the water line is in good condition, it maintains constant pressure which keeps the water flowing at the same rate you expect. However, if the water line has a leak—even a small one—it can cause the water pressure to drop. This is because water is seeping out and air is getting into the lines. 

There are a few things you can look for to see if you have a water line problem. Check the yard for abnormal wet spots between watering sessions. Look for water bubbling out in spots throughout the lawn and pay attention to the way each sprinkler head is working. If the pressure drops too low, some sprinkler heads may not receive water at all. 

It’s also a good idea to look at your water bills and see if they’ve been steadily increasing over the last few months without a clear reason. If so, you likely have a leak that’s wasting water and causing your bills to skyrocket.

If you notice any of these signs, call your sprinkler repair expert immediately. They’ll be able to make the necessary repairs so your sprinklers can start working normally. Even better, the sooner you get the leak repaired, the lower your water bills will be. 

2. The Sprinkler Heads Are Clogged
Anytime you mow the lawn, you generate tons of grass clippings and kick up dirt. Though some lawn mowers collect those clippings, others don’t and this can pose a serious problem for your home’s sprinkler system. All that plant debris will sit on top of the sprinkler heads. As they pop up and retract, the debris and clippings can get stuck inside the mechanism or inside the head itself. 

Over time, it’s common for debris to build up enough to block the flow of water or severely reduce it. When this happens, your sprinklers won’t put out enough water no matter how many times you run the cycle. 

Take a look at each sprinkler head and make sure the mechanism is clear of debris. If you notice dirt building up, gently remove it or scrub it away. This should get rid of any low pressure issues and will make your sprinkler system work normally in no time. If you can’t get rid of the debris or the problems continue, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Your repair technician may need to remove the head and clean it out more thoroughly.

3. Roots Are Growing Into Your Water Line
Trees and shrubs add a lot of value to your property. They make your house more eye-catching and can even help keep your home cooler during the warm summer months. However, they can pose a hazard to your water main. 

As those trees and shrubs grow, their roots spread throughout the soil and drive themselves deeper into the ground. Those roots are incredibly strong and can push rocks out of the way or even puncture your water line and grow into it. When this happens, you’ll end up with a clogged water main. 

Any obstruction to your home’s water line will decrease your water pressure. The same amount of water has to push past whatever is blocking the line, slowing the flow rate that your sprinklers are able to put out. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to repair this on your own. You’ll want to call your repair technician as soon as you can. 

4. The Main Valve Isn’t Open All the Way
As a responsible homeowner, you should always winterize your system. This process involves shutting off the water supply to your sprinkler system and blowing out any remaining moisture from the lines. When spring rolls around, all you have to do to get your system up and running again is to turn the water supply back on.

This is something you can easily do on your own. However, since those shut-off valves don’t get used very often, they can get sticky over time. When you go to turn on the water supply, you may think that you opened the valve fully. However, that doesn’t mean you did. If your water pressure has been steadily underwhelming since you turned your system back on, check your shut-off valve. See if it’s open all the way or if you accidentally opened it only part-way. 

If you did, turn the water supply back off and try opening it again. This is typically enough to break up any dust or sediment making the valve hard to operate. If it is open all the way, contact your repair technician. There may be a clog somewhere in the line and they’ll need to repair it before you can use your sprinklers the way you normally would. 

Get Your System Inspected
If you think your water pressure isn’t as high as it should be, don’t leave it alone for the rest of the summer. Schedule an inspection with Water Solutions Sprinkler Service and let our experienced technicians figure out what’s going on.

We’ll take a look at your entire system and troubleshoot the cause of your low water pressure. Once we find the cause, we’ll make sure to fix the problem once and for all so you can get back to using your sprinklers the way you always have. Contact us today to book an appointment.