4 Sprinkler Problems Plaguing Lakehills Homes

Your lawn is the pride of your Lakehills property, a cool green oasis against the Texas heat. But when your sprinkler system fails, that oasis can quickly turn into a brown, patchy mess. A malfunctioning irrigation system not only harms your landscape but also wastes water and drives up your utility bills, especially during our notorious drought cycles. Here at Mr. Sprinkler Repair in Lakehills, we understand these frustrations and are ready to help.

At Mr. Sprinkler Repair, we’ve seen it all. From brand-new installations to systems that have weathered decades of use, certain problems appear more often than others in our local area. Understanding what can go wrong is the first step toward a quick fix and a healthy lawn. We’ll walk you through four of the most common sprinkler issues we see in Lakehills, what to look for, and how we can help.

Electrical Overloads and Valve Solenoid Burnout

Have you ever had one sprinkler zone that just won’t turn on or, even worse, won’t turn off? The culprit is often a tiny but critical component: the valve solenoid. Think of it as an automatic gatekeeper for each zone of your sprinkler system. When the controller sends a low-voltage electrical signal, the solenoid opens the valve, letting water flow. When the signal stops, it closes.

Unfortunately, these solenoids can burn out. Power surges from lightning strikes, faulty wiring, or even moisture seeping into connections can cause an electrical overload. The result is a dead solenoid and a zone that’s either stuck open, creating a flood, or stuck closed, leading to a dry, stressed patch of grass.

Symptoms to Watch For:

A single sprinkler zone fails to activate.
One zone runs continuously and won’t shut off with the controller.
You notice water pooling around one of the in-ground valve boxes.
Your controller displays an error message like “FAULT” or “ERR.”

What You Can Do

You can perform a quick diagnostic. Try swapping the wire for the faulty zone with a wire from a working zone at the controller terminal. If the problem moves to the new zone, you may have a controller issue. If the same zone still fails to run, the problem is likely with the wiring or the solenoid itself.

While some handy homeowners might try replacing a solenoid, electrical work can be tricky and even risky if you’re not familiar with it. A professional can quickly and safely diagnose the root cause, ensuring it’s not a deeper wiring problem that could lead to more burnouts down the line.

Pest Infestations and Damaged Pipes

Our beautiful Hill Country environment means we share our space with plenty of wildlife. While it’s lovely to see deer wander by, some critters are less friendly to your irrigation system. In Lakehills, we frequently get calls about damage caused by pests.

Raccoons and armadillos are notorious for digging, sometimes unearthing and damaging shallow pipes or sprinkler heads in their search for grubs. Worse yet are fire ants, which are often attracted to the electricity in valve boxes. They can build massive colonies that chew through wires, short out solenoids, and create major headaches. Even smaller rodents can gnaw on the soft poly pipes used in many systems, creating hidden leaks that drain water and reduce pressure.

Symptoms to Watch For:

Noticeably low water pressure in one or more zones.
Geysers or spurts of water coming from somewhere other than a sprinkler head.
Sprinkler heads that are broken, tilted, or appear to have been dug up.
Unexplained wet, mushy spots in your yard.
Visible ant mounds around your valve boxes or sprinkler heads.

How to Protect Your System

Keeping your yard tidy can deter larger pests. For fire ants, treating mounds near your irrigation components is a crucial preventative step. If you suspect you have a leak from pest damage, turn the system on and walk your property. Look and listen for signs of water escaping underground.

Fixing chewed wires or replacing sections of pipe can be complex. For a reliable, watertight repair, it’s best to call for professional irrigation system service in Lakehills. We can locate the damage, replace the compromised components, and even offer advice on better protecting your system from local wildlife.

The Toll of Time: Age and Deterioration

Like any mechanical system, your sprinklers won’t last forever. Years of exposure to intense Texas sun, hard water, and our heavy caliche soil take a toll. Plastic components become brittle and crack, rubber seals dry out and fail, and metal parts can corrode.

An older system might suffer from a range of issues. Nozzles wear out, creating uneven spray patterns. The seals in sprinkler heads can fail, causing them to leak constantly from the base. Underground, pipes that have become brittle can crack under the shifting soil, leading to significant water loss that you may not even notice until you get a high water bill.

Symptoms to Watch For:

Sprinkler heads that don’t pop up or retract fully.
Leaking or dripping from heads long after the system has shut off.
Cracked or broken plastic casings on sprinkler bodies.
A gradual decline in performance across the entire system.
An unexpected spike in your water bill.

When to Upgrade vs. Repair

For a single broken head, a simple replacement is often enough. But if you find yourself fixing one old, brittle component after another, it may be time to consider a systematic upgrade. Modern sprinkler technology is far more efficient than systems from 10 or 20 years ago. New nozzles, pressure-regulating heads, and smart controllers can significantly cut your water usage.

A professional assessment can help you decide. We can perform a full system audit to identify weak points and recommend targeted repairs or upgrades that will provide the most value, ensuring your system runs efficiently for years to come.

Invasive Plant and Tree Roots

The trees that provide welcome shade for your home can be a hidden enemy to your irrigation lines. Tree and shrub roots are naturally drawn to the moisture around sprinkler pipes. They can wrap around a pipe, slowly crushing it over time. More aggressive roots can even penetrate the pipe itself, creating a blockage or a major leak.

In the Lakehills area, species like oaks and other native plants have extensive root systems that are experts at seeking out water. A tiny, hairline crack in a pipe fitting is all a root needs to invade. Once inside, it will expand, completely blocking flow and eventually splitting the pipe open.

Symptoms to Watch For:

A “dry spot” in your lawn, often near a large tree or shrub, where a head has stopped spraying.
A significant drop in pressure in a zone, or no water at all.
Water bubbling up from the ground near the base of a tree.
Sprinkler heads that are being pushed up or tilted by underground root growth.

Why This Isn’t a DIY Job

Dealing with root intrusion is one of the toughest jobs in Lakehills sprinkler repair. It requires locating the exact point of invasion, which is often deep underground. The work involves digging carefully around the root system to avoid harming the tree, cutting out the damaged pipe section, removing the offending root, and installing a new section of pipe.

Attempting this yourself can easily lead to more damage to your irrigation system or the tree. Our technicians have the tools and experience to resolve root-related problems effectively, rerouting lines when necessary to prevent the issue from recurring.

Don’t Let Sprinkler Problems Ruin Your Lawn

A healthy, efficient sprinkler system is essential for maintaining a beautiful landscape in Lakehills. While some minor issues can be handled on your own, problems involving wiring, underground leaks, or widespread deterioration are best left to the experts. Continuing to run a faulty system wastes water, costs you money, and puts your lawn at risk.

If you’re seeing any of these symptoms, don’t wait for a small problem to become a major disaster. The team at Mr. Sprinkler Repair is here to help. We offer comprehensive inspections and professional repairs for all types of irrigation systems.

Ready to get your sprinklers back in top shape? Contact us today to schedule an inspection or service call. Fill out the contact form on our website or give us a call us at 726-268-1299 to speak with one of our friendly technicians!