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Winter has a way of coming early in the Denver metro area and this year is no different. All that snowfall changes the way you use and care for your home’s landscaping. If you’re new to the area or haven’t had the responsibility of taking care of landscaping in the past, you probably aren’t sure where to start. Though it’s easy to think you can just let your lawn sit over the winter months, your trusted sprinkler repair team in Denver knows that nothing could be further from the truth. You still need to give your lawn a little TLC if you want it to rebound in the spring. Here are a few key tasks you should do to take care of your lawn during the coldest part of the year.

Fertilize Your Lawn

Most homeowners think about fertilizing their grass and garden beds in the spring before the growing season starts in earnest. While this is definitely helpful, it’s not the only time you should give your grass a little food. Whenever possible, apply a good amount of fertilizer before the ground freezes solid. Most years, this won’t happen until mid-November, so you still have time! 

That fertilizer helps replenish the nutrients in the soil that your grass used up during the summer and fall. This allows the roots to stay healthy and makes it easier for your lawn to recover in time for the growing season. If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, contact your landscaping expert and get their advice. They’ll be able to tell you what type of fertilizer is best for your yard and how to apply it properly.

Schedule a Blowout

If you have a sprinkler system running across your property, you need to get it ready for the winter months, too. Otherwise, you risk damaging your lawn, your home, and your water bill. Think of it this way: water runs from your home’s water main through pipes to each sprinkler head on the property. Turning the water supply off will keep new water from flowing through the pipes, but it won’t do anything to get rid of the water already inside the pipes. If that water freezes, it can rupture the pipes, flood your lawn, and cause all sorts of problems for your property.

The best thing you can do is schedule a blowout with your sprinkler maintenance team. During this appointment, they’ll use a high-pressured air compressor to purge the water from the lines in your sprinkler system. This effectively dries the system out and makes your sprinklers safe even in the harsh winter temperatures. 

Aerate Your Grass

Over the course of the growing season, the dirt beneath your grass can get compacted. This happens when people walk across the surface over and over again or when you leave lawn furniture or decorations out for months on end. Once the soil gets compacted, it keeps the roots from getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to make your lawn lush and green when the growing season comes back around.

Luckily, you can do something about it. All you have to do is aerate the lawn when the weather starts to turn. The process involves punching holes in your soil to give the roots room to breathe. Most homeowners prefer to use automated lawn aerators to take care of the task quickly. However, if your budget is tight, you can pick up an aerating fork at your local hardware or garden supply store.

Rake It Often

Though leaves and plant debris can enrich the soil when they have a chance to break down, they can also cause serious damage and ongoing problems for your lawn. The leaves trap moisture between the soil and the top of your lawn. That moisture can’t evaporate and then encourages mold and mildew growth in your grass. This will create dead patches of grass when the growing season starts. Worse, the mold and mildew can spread to other parts of your lawn.

The best thing you can do is rake it every week or two. Pick up the piles of leaves and collect them away from your lawn. If you want to use them as compost for your garden bed, collect the leaves and let them break down in a dry spot in your yard. If you don’t want to create your own compost, bag the leaves and throw them out with your garbage.

Spread Seed

Believe it or not, the best time to plant more grass isn’t always in the spring. It’s actually in the late fall before the ground freezes. Spread fresh grass seed in the bare patches or under-performing parts of your lawn. Then, water the new seeds well during the heat of the day. You’ll need to use your garden hose with a spray nozzle for best results since your sprinkler system should be off for the season. 

Once you see the seeds start to sprout, you can stop watering and let them grow on their own. The roots from the sprouted seeds will continue to grow over the winter months. Once the weather warms up, the new seed will grow with the rest of your lawn. Keep in mind that there will always be some seeds that don’t make it through the winter. You may need to spread more seeds in spring to fill in any gaps that you find.

Follow These Tips This Winter

Keeping your home’s landscaping looking great during the spring is only possible if you take the time to maintain your yard during the winter. Follow these simple tips this winter and you’ll be in good shape and your lawn will recover from the cold quickly when the weather warms backup. It may take a bit of work and determination, but the results once the weather warms back up will be more than worth it. If you still need to schedule a sprinkler blowout or are worried about your system’s ability to survive the winter, don’t panic. Contact our team to schedule an appointment.

When your sprinklers are working the way they’re supposed to, they send a steady supply of water to your plants and lawn without issue. Once the timer sends the signal, the system turns on and runs through the cycle automatically, only missing cycles if there’s a significant rainstorm that makes watering unnecessary. Since they’re entirely automatic, it’s easy to stop paying attention to the way the system is working at any given time or the issues it might be causing with your home’s exterior. Remember, water damage is a serious issue and the sooner you deal with it, the better off your property will be. Here are a few key things your Denver sprinkler repair team wants you to watch for around your property.

Pooling Around Your Foundation
Your home’s foundation is designed to be able to handle the occasional rainstorm without a problem. It’s even built to move with changing soil conditions without cracking and getting damaged. However, it’s not built to withstand constant exposure to water. Walk around your home’s exterior and keep an eye on the foundation line. Look for puddles collecting along the side of your house after running your sprinkler system. 

Even if those puddles fade after an hour or two, you’ll want to get your system inspected by a professional. Small puddles soaking into the ground around your home still increase the amount of moisture exposure your foundation faces. Over time, it can cause the foundation to crack and warp. Once this happens, you’ll be in for some costly repairs and may have to deal with additional damage throughout your home.

Cracks in the Siding
Your home’s siding isn’t just a decorative touch that adds personality and flair to your building. It also helps protect the insulation, wiring, and integrity of the house itself. When it’s damaged, the rest of your house is at risk for serious water damage, insect infestations, and even mold growth. Unfortunately, water repeatedly hitting the side of your house can cause the siding to warp and lift away from the supports on the exterior of your house. 

Look at your siding at least once a month and check for any cracks and warping in the materials. If you see any, get them repaired quickly and have your sprinklers inspected to make sure the issue won’t repeat itself. Your repair technician will be able to make the necessary repairs to adjust the spray pattern of your sprinklers.

Warping Paint
Exterior paint is designed to withstand regular exposure to moisture and the elements, but repeat exposure caused by sprinkler systems constantly hitting the side of your home can cause the paint to bubble up. Once it does, the moisture barrier formed by the paint will be compromised. This puts your siding at risk of extensive water damage if the problem continues. Once the moisture builds up in the siding, it can end up encouraging mold and mildew growth inside your walls. Adjusting the sprinkler heads to avoid hitting the house will keep the damage at bay.

Excess Moisture Buildup in the Basement
Sometimes, the spray from your sprinkler heads can soak into the ground very quickly. That doesn’t mean it’s not doing damage to your home. Get in the habit of inspecting your basement or crawlspace every few weeks. Pay attention to the humidity levels inside and make sure there’s no sign of water soaking through the foundation and into your home. If you notice anything out of place or feel that the space is overly humid, don’t wait. Get the damage checked out by an experienced contractor and take care of your sprinkler heads’ positioning.

Discoloration in Your Foundation
All water has some trace minerals in it. Those minerals are actually beneficial both for your health and your home’s soil composition. However, those same minerals can also make it really easy to notice water damage caused by your sprinkler system after the water has dried completely. Between watering sessions, walk around your home’s exterior and look for visible discoloration along the base of your home. You’ll likely see a buildup of white specks left behind as the water dried. If you see this, take action quickly. The sooner you get your sprinkler system adjusted, the safer your home’s foundation will be.

Musty Smell Indoors
Severe water damage will eventually soak into the walls of your home even if the source of the water damage comes from outside your house. Though you might not see visible water damage inside your house, you will likely be able to smell it. Give your home a smell test every week and pay attention to any inexplicably changing odors. If you suddenly start smelling damp, musty, or earthy smells inside your house, you likely have water damage soaking in from the exterior. Keep in mind that this could be due to a problem in your plumbing, so it’s always best to schedule an appointment with your trusted plumber.

Water Pooling on the Main Level
If water keeps hitting the side of your house and you continue to ignore the issues at hand, you may end up seeing water pooling inside your home along the base of your walls. Ignoring this damage isn’t an option. The longer it sits, the more damaged your home will become. As soon as you notice inexplicable moisture on your floor, get your sprinkler system and your plumbing system inspected. This way, you’ll be able to fix the issue before the problem spreads and threatens the safety of your house and your furnishings.

Don’t Let Your Sprinklers Hurt Your Home
Watch for these tell-tale signs that your sprinkler system is damaging your house so you can stay on top of repairs and keep your home in good condition. If you spot even a single one, don’t ignore the damage. Contact Water Solutions Sprinkler Service as soon as possible to schedule an inspection with our dedicated team. We’ll make sure your sprinkler system is calibrated correctly so the only things the sprinkler heads will water will be the plants you love. 
 

Your sprinkler system is one of the most important components of your home’s landscape design. When it’s in good condition, it will reliably water your yard for years. However, to ensure that the unit works properly for years to come, you need to let your Denver sprinkler repair pros take care of regular maintenance tasks on schedule. One of the most important things you can do for your system and your yard is to schedule an annual system blowout before the weather starts to turn. Though most homeowners remember to take care of this task on time each year, others just keep putting it off. So, what happens to your sprinkler system if you don’t schedule a blowout?

Your Pipes Could Burst
Every sprinkler system pulls water from your home’s water supply and sends it into your yard through buried pipes. Those pipes are what help you keep your lawn watered without having to worry about setting up a garden hose or move a detachable sprinkler around the lawn to make sure everything gets watered correctly. 

During warmer months, those pipes stay in good condition. The water flows through them freely and easily. However, as the temperatures drop and the ground starts to freeze, your pipes can freeze, too. When this happens, the water inside them expands and pushes against the walls of the pipes. If the freeze is hard enough, the pipes could burst. Once this happens, you’ll be in for an expensive repair come spring. 

Leaks Could Hurt Your Yard’s Growth in Spring
The ground often thaws long before you have to worry about turning the sprinkler system back on. When the pipes are empty of water, this won’t be a problem. They’ll stay dry until you turn the water supply back on. However, if those pipes burst, you’ll have a serious leak going on underground. Though it might not seem like a huge issue, those leaking pipes can do serious damage to your lawn and your landscaping.

The soil in your yard needs to be moist, not soaking wet for your plants to thrive. If the dirt is soaked by a leak, the roots in your garden will start to mold and decay. Over the course of a few weeks, your landscaping will start to show visible signs of damage.  Unfortunately, you’ll likely end up needing to redo the full landscape design if the leak has a chance to spread.

The Sprinkler Heads Might Get Damaged
The pipes underground aren’t the only components at risk for freezing. The sprinkler heads are, too. Though they don’t store water inside, some excess water from your pipes will still get trapped inside the heads. If the temperatures drop and the heads start to freeze, you’ll ruin the sprinkler heads entirely.

Once you go to turn your system on in the spring, you’ll notice that the spray either won’t go where you need it to go or won’t come out at all. Regardless of what happens, you’ll be without a sprinkler system until your repair technicians can come and inspect the sprinkler heads. In most cases, the heads will need to be replaced completely to restore your system to 100 percent functionality. 

Your Water Bill Could Skyrocket
One of the most common reasons homeowners choose to install sprinkler systems on their property is to reduce their overall water usage. When sprinklers are in good shape and properly maintained, you’ll be able to keep your bill as low as possible without having to cut back on your watering habits. However, if you forget to schedule a blowout, your bill will likely go up.

Remember, when your pipes burst, all that water seeps into the ground rather than getting distributed to your plants. Anytime you turn the sprinkler system on, your unit will need to use more water to hydrate your yard which, in turn, means more water gets wasted through the cracked pipes. Over the course of the season, this can easily add hundreds to your regular water costs.

The Backflow Device Can Break
If your yard is set up like most homeowners’ yards, your sprinkler system’s backflow device is located outside your house. The backflow device keeps the water in your sprinkler system from running back indoors and into your home’s drinking water supply. This helps prevent contaminants, dirt, and debris from ending up in your home’s taps. Since it’s outside, it needs to be drained as part of your normal blowout appointment before the first hard freeze.

If you forget to take care of your annual blowout, you risk damaging the backflow device. At best, water can start leaking out from the components around the device. The only way to stop the leak is to shut the water supply off entirely. At worst, water from your sprinkler system can get back inside your home resulting in contaminated water and potentially clogged pipes and drains.

You’ll End Up Spending More Money on Repairs
The most important thing to remember when deciding whether you can put off your sprinkler system blowout is that ignoring this important maintenance step can lead to serious and costly repairs. Those repairs are preventable and the easiest way to prevent them in the first place is to schedule a blowout before the first hard freeze. Remember, preventative maintenance is always going to be cheaper than paying for a full system replacement or having to dig up your pipes to repair ruptures and leaks. 

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
If you’ve been wondering if a sprinkler system blowout is absolutely necessary, the answer is a definitive, “yes.” Putting it off or failing to take care of it altogether puts your sprinkler system at risk for serious damage and could derail your springtime gardening plans before the weather even has a chance to warm back up. The best thing you can do is schedule an appointment with the team at Water Solutions Sprinkler Service now. We’ll help you figure out the perfect time to take care of the blowout and will handle the task quickly and easily. 
 

You rely on your home’s sprinkler system to keep your lawn lush and growing during the warmer months. While that system can last for many years with the proper care and maintenance from your trusted Denver sprinkle repair professionals, it will eventually need to be replaced. Selecting a new system may seem easy enough, but there are a few common mistakes that most homeowners make that can derail your yard’s growth and end up damaging your lawn. Here’s what you need to know so you can avoid making those mistakes yourself.

Choosing a Subpar System
Just because a sprinkler system is newer than the one you had on your property doesn’t mean it’s better than the system you already own. Instead of choosing the first replacement you can find, do your due diligence. Research the manufacturer and see if any other homeowners have experienced issues with the system or the manufacturer. Pay attention to repeat issues and concerns and make a note of the companies that stand behind their products. This will help you avoid choosing a system that will be nothing more than a headache down the road. 

Not Paying Attention to the Manufacturer’s Warranty
Most reputable sprinkler system manufacturers stand behind the quality of their products. This means they offer warranties to help cover the cost of repairs or replacements due to defects introduced in the manufacturing process. Unfortunately, the warranties differ dramatically from company to company. Some last for just a few months while others can last for several years. This means you’ll need to read up on the warranty for each system you’re considering to choose the right replacement for your home. Look at the details closely. 

See what you have to do to maintain the warranty, consider how long it lasts, and familiarize yourself with any other requirements you may need to fulfill to use the warranty in the first place. Keep in mind that almost all manufacturers require you to work with a licensed installation specialist. Otherwise, you’ll void the warranty before the system is installed. 

Not Checking Before You Dig
Almost every house has hidden pipes running underneath the grass and landscaping on the property. These pipes provide gas and water to your home so you can use your appliances normally. Though convenient, those gas and water lines pose a huge hazard when you’re installing sprinkler systems. If you damage one while digging to inspect your current sprinkler setup, you risk both the safety of your yard and your home.

The best thing you can do is call your local utility company and find out where the lines are located on your property. Mark those locations out before you do anything deep in the soil. If you’re not sure what to use, pick up flags or spray chalk at your local hardware store. You can use these to show the location and path of the lines so you can spot them at a glance when you’re working.

Trying to Install the Replacement on Your Own
Though installing a sprinkler system might seem easy enough, it’s actually an incredibly complicated process. You need to remove the old system first and check all water line fittings and connections for wear and tear. Then, you need to successfully install the new system, hooking it up to power and water properly. If you make a single mistake, you could end up doing serious damage to your yard, your water main, and even your home. 

Instead of trying to install the system on your own, you should always work with an experienced professional and let them handle the installation for you. They’ll make sure the system works properly and, as an added bonus, will preserve any manufacturer warranty without issue. Over the life of your sprinkler system, this can end up saving you hundreds of dollars. 

Not Zoning the Sprinkler Heads Properly
When sprinkler systems are installed correctly, your yard gets broken up into different zones. Those zones determine which sprinkler head waters which part of the yard. When the heads are zoned properly, they water your yard the right way and with the right amount of water. You won’t have to worry about overwatering certain areas. 

One of the biggest issues that homeowners face when looking to get the system installed quickly is not taking the time to make sure the sprinkler heads are zoned correctly. When you hire an experienced installation team, they’ll take care of this for you so you can focus on using your new sprinkler system without issue. Keep in mind that not all installation companies provide the same quality services. You’ll need to double-check when looking for experts to make sure they’re able to install the system and get things tuned up properly for you.

Neglecting a Rain Sensor
Though the Denver metro area is known for being a sunny part of Colorado, it does still get a fair amount of rainfall each year. That rain can help keep your grass properly hydrated so you can water less often. However, if your new system is incredibly basic, you could end up overwatering your yard during rainstorms.

Whenever possible, invest in a system with a rain sensor built in. The sensor monitors moisture levels in your yard and automatically shuts the sprinklers off or cancels the programmed watering session if the soil is suitably damp. While it may cost a bit more money to install the sensor right off the bat, it can save you hundreds on your water bill over the life of the system.

Need to Upgrade Your Sprinklers?
These are just a few of the most common mistakes homeowners make when upgrading their home’s sprinkler system. The easiest way to avoid making them yourself is to work with an experienced installation team from the very beginning. At Water Solutions Sprinkler Service, we’ll help you find the right replacement system for your home and your landscaping. Don’t wait. Request a free estimate today and see the difference that a new, high-quality system can make. 
 

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 accidently opened it only partway. 

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.