Yes, your commercial sprinkler system likely needs repair if you see brown spots on the lawn, a sudden jump in your water bill, or zones that will not turn on. These problems often point to underground leaks, broken sprinkler heads, or controller malfunctions.
For business owners in Spokane and Spokane Valley, catching these warning signs early can save thousands of dollars. According to the EPA, a poorly maintained irrigation system can waste up to 25,000 gallons of water each year. Even a tiny leak just 1/32 of an inch wide wastes about 6,300 gallons per month.
This guide covers the key warning signs that your commercial irrigation system needs professional attention.
Visible Warning Signs On Your Property
Many sprinkler problems show up right on your lawn or around your building. Knowing what to look for helps you catch issues before they get worse.
- Brown Spots Despite Daily Watering
If your irrigation systems run every day but certain areas still have brown, dry grass, something is wrong. This frustrating problem is common at Spokane business properties.
Common causes include:
- Clogged nozzles blocking water flow to parts of your lawn
- Tilted or broken sprinkler heads pointing in the wrong direction
- Low water pressure causing weak, uneven coverage
- Damaged pipes reducing flow to certain zones
- Sprinkler Heads Spraying Sidewalks And Parking Lots
When heads spray water onto sidewalks and parking lots instead of grass, you waste water and money. This happens when heads get knocked out of alignment by mowers, foot traffic, or settling soil.
Misaligned heads need professional adjustment. This problem will not fix itself and only gets worse over time.
- Hissing Sound And Mist Instead Of Solid Spray
Sprinkler heads that make a hissing sound and produce a fine mist instead of a solid stream usually have pressure issues or cracked components. Low pressure means water cannot reach all areas of your lawn. Cracked heads waste water and create soggy spots near the head while leaving distant areas dry.
High Water Bills And Hidden Leaks
A sudden spike in your business property water bill often signals a hidden underground leak. These leaks are hard to spot, but waste huge amounts of water and money.
The EPA reports that minor leaks waste nearly one trillion gallons of water yearly across the country. Ten percent of commercial and residential properties have leaks wasting 90 gallons or more per day.
How To Check For Underground Leaks
You can check for leaks yourself with this simple method:
- Turn off all water in your building
- Note your water meter reading
- Wait two hours without using any water
- Check the meter again
If the meter has moved, you likely have a leak somewhere in your system. For commercial properties, even small leaks can add hundreds of dollars to your monthly water bill.
Water Bubbling Up From The Ground
If you see water bubbling up from the ground near your sprinkler lines even when the system is turned off, this is an emergency. A broken mainline or cracked fitting is pushing water to the surface.
This type of leak wastes massive amounts of water and can erode soil under your parking lot or walkways. Contact emergency service right away to prevent serious property damage.
System And Controller Malfunctions
Sometimes the problem is not the sprinkler heads themselves but the system that controls them. Controller and valve issues can affect your entire irrigation setup.
- Zones Not Turning On In Spokane Valley
Commercial buildings in Spokane Valley often have multi-zone irrigation systems. When some zones work fine, but others do not turn on at all, the problem usually lies in the valves or wiring.
Common causes of zone failure:
- Faulty solenoid valves stopping water flow
- Damaged wiring between controller and valves
- Freeze damage from harsh Spokane winters
- Debris blocking valve diaphragms
Research shows irrigation systems in colder climates can suffer damage costs over $1,000 if not winterized properly. A professional inspection can find the exact cause and fix it before problems spread to other zones.
- Controller Keeps Resetting Or Shows Blank Screen
The controller is your irrigation system's brain. When it fails, your whole system suffers. If your controller keeps resetting itself or displays a blank screen, it needs attention right away.
Sometimes a simple battery replacement or surge protector fixes the issue. Other times, the controller has reached the end of its life. Controllers typically last 10 to 15 years. If yours is older and acting up, replacement is often smarter than repeated repairs.
A new smart controller can also help save water by adjusting schedules based on weather conditions. This is especially helpful during Spokane's hot, dry summers.
How Often To Inspect Commercial Irrigation Systems
The Irrigation Association recommends checking your system at the start of each watering season. For Spokane commercial services, this means scheduling:
- Spring inspection after the last frost
- Mid-season checkup during peak summer use
- Fall winterization before temperatures drop
Good maintenance can reduce irrigation water use by 15%, saving about 7,600 gallons per year. That is enough water for 480 showers. Regular inspections also catch small problems before they become expensive repairs.
Spokane's freeze-thaw cycles put extra stress on irrigation systems. Pipes and valves that are not properly drained before winter can crack when water inside them freezes and expands. Professional winterization prevents this costly damage.
Final Thoughts
Commercial sprinkler systems in Spokane face unique challenges from the region's hot summers and freezing winters. Brown spots despite daily watering, high water bills, zones that will not turn on, hissing heads with weak mist, controller malfunctions, and water bubbling from the ground are all clear signs your system needs professional repair.
Do not wait for small irrigation problems to turn into major repairs. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Spokane has the expertise to diagnose and fix commercial sprinkler systems quickly.
Request a job estimate today and get your commercial property's irrigation system back on track before the next watering season.
