When you buy a house in Spring or have an irrigation system that's been running for a few years, you need to know if it's actually working the way it should. A lot of homeowners assume their sprinkler system is fine because the heads pop up and water comes out. That's not enough. A real irrigation inspection catches problems that waste water, damage your landscape, and cost you money every month on your water bill. We see systems all the time that look functional on the surface but have broken zones, misaligned heads, clogged lines, and pressure issues that mean some parts of your yard get soaked while others dry out.
Check Every Zone and Its Wiring
Your sprinkler system runs on zones, and each zone has its own valve and wiring that tells it when to turn on and off. During an inspection, we walk through every single zone while it's running. We're looking at whether all the heads actually pop up, whether they're spraying in the right direction, and whether the water pressure feels right. We also test the controller and the wiring that connects it to each valve. Corroded wires, loose connections, or a failing controller can shut down an entire zone without you noticing until your St. Augustine grass starts browning. We check the voltage at each valve solenoid too. Low voltage means the valve won't open properly, and you'll get weak or no water flow.
Inspect the Valve Box and Main Line
The valve box sits under your lawn and holds the main shutoff and all your zone valves. We pull the lid and look for standing water, which means your main line or one of the valves is leaking underground. We also check for sediment or mineral buildup inside the valves, which is common in Spring's water. If the main shutoff valve is stuck or corroded, we'll catch it now instead of when you have an emergency. The main line that runs from your meter to the valve box gets pressure tested too. A slow leak underground can waste thousands of gallons a year and you won't see it until your water bill spikes or a sinkhole appears in your yard.
Test Water Pressure and Flow Rate
Proper pressure is critical. If your system runs at too high a pressure, you get misting and overspray instead of a solid spray pattern, and you'll wear out your heads faster. Too low, and you won't get adequate coverage. We use a pressure gauge at the main line and at individual zones to make sure you're in the 40 to 80 PSI range where most residential systems perform best. We also measure flow rate with a bucket and timer to confirm you're not running more water than your meter can handle, which will drop pressure across all zones. This matters a lot in Spring where summer heat means your system needs to work efficiently.
Look at Heads, Nozzles, and Coverage
Every sprinkler head gets examined. We check for cracks, bent stems, and worn internal parts that cause them to spray unevenly or not retract. We look at the nozzles to see if they're clogged with debris or mineral deposits. We also walk the yard and look at the actual spray pattern. Are there dry spots where coverage overlaps are too far apart. Are there puddles or runoff where water is hitting hardscape or overspray is hitting the street. We also check if heads are sunken, tilted, or buried under soil and grass, which throws off the spray pattern. In Spring's clay soil, heads can settle over time. We note which ones need adjustment or replacement.
Evaluate the Timer and Scheduling
We review your controller settings to make sure the watering schedule makes sense for the season and your landscape. A lot of people set their system once and never change it. That means they're watering the same way in January as they are in July, which is wasteful. We check that you have the right run times for each zone based on the head types, soil type, and plant material. We also look for signs of controller failure like a blank screen, incorrect time display, or zones that won't respond to manual commands. If your timer is more than 10 or 15 years old, it's probably time to upgrade to something with a rain sensor or weather-based controls.
Identify Leaks and Damage
We trace the visible portions of your system for leaks at connections, at the valve box, and at the heads. We also look for signs of underground leaks like soft or soggy areas in your yard, or spots where grass is greener than everywhere else. We check for damage from landscape work, tree roots, or settling. Any cracks or loose fittings get documented so you know what needs repair now versus what you can plan for later.
A full irrigation inspection from Smarter Sprinklers & Drain Systems takes two to three hours and gives you a complete picture of your system's health. Call us and schedule one today.
