For homeowners who have an in-ground irrigation system, now is the perfect time to inspect for any problems. Warmer weather means that ornamental plants and turf will start actively growing again. To avoid any potential problems, inspect your irrigation system each month.

Irrigation systems are made up of many different components. The controller is usually located within your garage. Rain sensors are located under the eaves of residential houses and valves are located in green or purple valve boxes in your landscape.

One irrigation component you must check are the water distributing components. I am referring to the rotors or spray heads. This is where I find the most problems. Broken risers, pipes and clogged filters are common. It is also common to see irrigation heads watering more sidewalks or driveways than plants. In these cases, a simple hand adjustment may work.

Each month during the growing season, turn on your irrigation system manually. Check each zone for malfunctioning irrigation components. If you see sand emerging from under a rotor, it could be a broken pipe. If a spray head is not emitting any water, it could be clogged. Do you have a geyser? It is not uncommon for irrigation heads to fall victim to mowers, string trimmers or edgers. Left unchecked, this can be a huge waste of water.

Inspecting your irrigation system each month is a easy way to prevent costly problems from happening.

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